Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
Jan 3rd 2016, 8:07 am
#1
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Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
Has any one had to deal with Xenophobia or bullying in the work place because they came to the US from England (or any other country)?
I am not talking about the snide war comments or July 4th comments that we all endure or the comments made in fun. I am talking about someone making out right mean comments because you are here from another country.
I am not talking about the snide war comments or July 4th comments that we all endure or the comments made in fun. I am talking about someone making out right mean comments because you are here from another country.
Jan 3rd 2016, 8:23 am
#2
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
No, short answer. Sorry to hear this if it is a personal experience.
I did have one guy who was very hostile based on nationality, in a presentation I gave, he was an outsider though, I went to them as outreach. Everyone else present, apologized for him.
More recently I have had the opposite, British food came up in conversation, someone addressed a question to me, she then cancelled the question pointing out that just because I am British, she should not assume that I know all about British food. (She is of Philippine heritage, and she continued to say that it would be like people turning to ask her questions about rice.)
I did have one guy who was very hostile based on nationality, in a presentation I gave, he was an outsider though, I went to them as outreach. Everyone else present, apologized for him.
More recently I have had the opposite, British food came up in conversation, someone addressed a question to me, she then cancelled the question pointing out that just because I am British, she should not assume that I know all about British food. (She is of Philippine heritage, and she continued to say that it would be like people turning to ask her questions about rice.)
Jan 3rd 2016, 9:31 am
#3
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
I think some people feel that it is safe and politically correct to be mean, snide, rude to British people and about Britain - because Britain was top dog and hegemonistic perpetrator rather than victim or underdog.
I had a work colleague who is a Jewish, socialist, feminist rainbow-alliance type. She used to come out with chinless-wonder, bad dentistry, Chamberlain-appeasement stereotypes directed at me, even in department meetings and such. I used to upbraid her about it (in private.) We are good friends now.
I had a work colleague who is a Jewish, socialist, feminist rainbow-alliance type. She used to come out with chinless-wonder, bad dentistry, Chamberlain-appeasement stereotypes directed at me, even in department meetings and such. I used to upbraid her about it (in private.) We are good friends now.
Jan 3rd 2016, 12:44 pm
#4
Joined: May 2008
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
I've never experienced this. I have however had people who engaged me in conversations complaining about 'foreigners taking jobs', or H1B visa immigrants etc. The fact I'm an English speaking white person seems to make them blind to the fact that I came here on a H1B and 'took their job'...
Jan 3rd 2016, 4:18 pm
#5
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
nope
I did hold an August 24th Party in 2014
200th Anniversary. A lot of people thought we should do it again.
I did hold an August 24th Party in 2014
200th Anniversary. A lot of people thought we should do it again.
Jan 3rd 2016, 4:55 pm
#6
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
Happens in Canada somewhat. Not sure about Brirs but towards others it does. I dont even tell people I am from the US. Easy for me to blend in, but those from regions who cannot can face a lot of negativity. Canadians tend to not like change and feel multiculturalisim is being forced onto them.
Some regions are better then others.
Some regions are better then others.
Jan 3rd 2016, 5:49 pm
#7
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
No real xenophobia no, but I've had plenty of leg pulling. I'm more than happy to give as good as I get though.
Jan 3rd 2016, 5:58 pm
#8
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
I've been called a Limey by some of the older people. The younger generation seem to no longer use that terminology. My Yorkshire accent has gone down well also.
When I first came here there were still quite a lot of WW2 vets around and those who had been in England during that time were eager to share their experiences
On one or two occasions there have been old Yanks who liked to comment on the defeat of the British by the rebels during the revolutionary war. I always answered that it was thanks to a great deal of help from the French. That usually shut them up
When I first came here there were still quite a lot of WW2 vets around and those who had been in England during that time were eager to share their experiences
On one or two occasions there have been old Yanks who liked to comment on the defeat of the British by the rebels during the revolutionary war. I always answered that it was thanks to a great deal of help from the French. That usually shut them up
Jan 3rd 2016, 7:12 pm
#9
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
Limey wasn't a term of abuse was it ?
Jan 3rd 2016, 7:36 pm
#10
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
I haven't, no.
I do work in an office full of very, very conservative people who enjoy listening to Rush Limbaugh on the drive in to work and such.
I'm sure there are a handful who don't necessarily 'approve' of my employment as a non-American, however no open hostility at all.
Perhaps that's my own insecurities, though. No way to tell.
I do work in an office full of very, very conservative people who enjoy listening to Rush Limbaugh on the drive in to work and such.
I'm sure there are a handful who don't necessarily 'approve' of my employment as a non-American, however no open hostility at all.
Perhaps that's my own insecurities, though. No way to tell.
Jan 3rd 2016, 10:04 pm
#11
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
I haven't, no.
I do work in an office full of very, very conservative people who enjoy listening to Rush Limbaugh on the drive in to work and such.
I'm sure there are a handful who don't necessarily 'approve' of my employment as a non-American, however no open hostility at all.
Perhaps that's my own insecurities, though. No way to tell.
I do work in an office full of very, very conservative people who enjoy listening to Rush Limbaugh on the drive in to work and such.
I'm sure there are a handful who don't necessarily 'approve' of my employment as a non-American, however no open hostility at all.
Perhaps that's my own insecurities, though. No way to tell.
Jan 4th 2016, 3:57 pm
#13
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
The only place I got it was in Nigeria. They truly do not like Honkies there.
Jan 4th 2016, 5:29 pm
#14
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
Here some of the things one of my co-workers has said to me...
* I should have to pay more taxes for being here.
* She should 'disability or something for putting up with us'
* She doesn't know why they all have to come to Michigan
* 'They must be coming here because the Syrian Refugees are taking over their
Countries'.
She said other things too but I did not hear. Probably a good thing I didn't.
I barely know this person I think before this happened other than saying Hi I only talked to her once before and it was about weather.
Just to clarify she was not kidding.
* I should have to pay more taxes for being here.
* She should 'disability or something for putting up with us'
* She doesn't know why they all have to come to Michigan
* 'They must be coming here because the Syrian Refugees are taking over their
Countries'.
She said other things too but I did not hear. Probably a good thing I didn't.
I barely know this person I think before this happened other than saying Hi I only talked to her once before and it was about weather.
Just to clarify she was not kidding.
Jan 4th 2016, 6:01 pm
#15
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Re: Have you ever had to deal with true Xenophobia (in the work place)?
The worst xenophobia-related attack I got in my first year at my job was
* there was a stronger candidate, I shouldn't have been offered the job
* I was successful & offered the job because certain members of the committee were "creaming themselves over my ****ing English accent and effortless sense of British superiority."
* plus, "here is my file on one of your staff members. You need to fire her, I didn't get around to it."
I chose not to take any action on my staff member, the file on her was hysterical and mostly unfounded. However I did start a file on my complaining colleague, and within a year she had gone.
* there was a stronger candidate, I shouldn't have been offered the job
* I was successful & offered the job because certain members of the committee were "creaming themselves over my ****ing English accent and effortless sense of British superiority."
* plus, "here is my file on one of your staff members. You need to fire her, I didn't get around to it."
I chose not to take any action on my staff member, the file on her was hysterical and mostly unfounded. However I did start a file on my complaining colleague, and within a year she had gone.