Canadian Politics Today

Gaia, protect this wokespace and all who dwell within this wokespace. Protect us from ideas we don't agree with, and words that make us uncomfortable be they true or false. Protect our feelings, Gaia.



Meanwhile at UBC: university apologizes after wokie res advisor distributes material intended to educate people about "yellow privilege".

https://vancouversun.com/news/canada/ubc-apologizes-after-document-on-yellow-privilege-sent-to-students/


 -k

If white privilege is an actual thing, which I absolutely believe it is....  and yellow people (I think East Asian is probably a better term) have very similar privilege too....  then what is the issue?

If we exclude the odd snickers about cultural taboos (ahem ahem), you cannot in good conscience deny the privilege Asians have compared to some other minorities, pandemic assaults notwithstanding.  Many white supremacists/nationalists admire Asians and acknowledge their work ethics and intelligence.  I can't remember the documentary but for what it's worth, a white-nationalist was making the point that he doesn't care so much about supremacy, but white nationalism.  He was in many ways Asians are even superior to whites (again take that FWIW because i don't remember his name to quote here).

I was picked on in my all-white school for my curly hair and darker skin but I never really experienced true racism until I dated a black guy.  He played for the Toronto Argonaults making a lot of money and dressed nice, yet cabs would not stop for us once they looked past me and saw him.  Waitresses would him to pay up front for our drinks and being surprised by the big tip.  Sure, things like 'where are you from' bothered me when I grew up in Canada but I was shocked by the life he had to endure even though he was an educated, high-earning black man.   

I wouldn't say there is a hierarchy, but there are different branches, and indeed Asians are on a branch that's not as affected as some of the other branches. 

To say it's privilege is not incorrect IMO.  They are more likely to get that phone call for the job interview because it's assumed they're smart.  They're likely to get that apartment rented to them because it's assumed they're quiet and will pay their rent on time.  They're more likely to not to have their hair products locked away because it's assumed they might steal.  They may get slighted for being just the waving neighbour who doesn't socialize, but hey.. at least they're quiet other than the sound of their kids playing the piano.

I certainly see the differences and how they can be seen as privilege, and I don't really think a person of European ancestry who has not experienced racial injustices has any room to discount their experiences and/or mansplain why they're wrong.

If we exclude the odd snickers about cultural taboos (ahem ahem), you cannot in good conscience deny the privilege Asians have compared to some other minorities, pandemic assaults notwithstanding.  Many white supremacists/nationalists admire Asians and acknowledge their work ethics and intelligence. 

Generalizing about groups is a minefield.  While it not be as 'offensive' to talk about 'them hard workin' Asians' the logical fallacy in such statements can be repurposed to cause harm if you don't point it out.

 

To say it's privilege is not incorrect IMO.  They are more likely to get that phone call for the job interview because it's assumed they're smart.  They're likely to get that apartment rented to them because it's assumed they're quiet and will pay their rent on time.  They're more likely to not to have their hair products locked away because it's assumed they might steal.  They may get slighted for being just the waving neighbour who doesn't socialize, but hey.. at least they're quiet other than the sound of their kids playing the piano.

By extension... that black guy might get picked for the dance team.... just because...

And ? 

Generalizing is fraught with problems and there are very select ways in which to do it.

I think Asian privilege and white privilege is a thing that exists in western societies.  I think calling it "yellow privilege" is poor choice of words.

I don't think white people are more racist than any other ethnicity.  I have yet to meet a racial group that doesn't have many members that favour people of their own race over other races.  It's a tribalism thing that comes from fear of outsiders and overgeneralizing different ethnic groups.  White people are the most dominant racial group in Canada/US, therefore non-whites sometimes are at a disadvantage due to privilege.  If you go to India or China or Nigeria etc, many people in those countries will privilege their own races over others.

People miss the prejudice that they have that ISN'T based on racial/religious/ethnic group.

We discriminate based on occupation far too much, for example.  Or by age.  Or by appearance.  I would like for the government to fund some public service short films that teach people to treat strangers as human beings.

The focus on racism is fair, because there are still a ton of racists and abuse out there but let's start with an acknowledgement that we are humans and build on that.

I agree...  calling any Asian ‘yellow’ is in poor taste.

Now...  about the term ‘white’ privelage....  words that cause offence are funny....   we can say white people...   black people...  brown people....

True.  I guess we don't call asians yellow anymore.

There is Asian privilege in Asia as well. I remember "Japanese Only" clubs in Japan. Had a buddy who was a flight engineer with JAL. He liked flying with Japanese pilots because they would take him to clubs he couldn't get into when he was flying with Gaigins.

The Japanese are certainly not known for their open and equal society, although that is obviously changing...  They very much prefer "their own kind" in a lot of cases.  Not sure it's a superiority issue....  but maybe more of a relatable issue?  I don't know though.  I would imagine that would be especially prevalent in their "warrior class".  They have a long history of putting their warriors on a pedestal, while also asking a lot of them of course...  kamikaze style.