Racism in China

I've just read a good article by an American woman who lived in Beijing on what she calls the 'racism' meted out to white Westerners in mainland China: http://tinyurl.com/33rfxoa (Wall Street Journal website).

The point made - that white Westerners get preferential treatment - is generally true. As a white Westerner, there's probably never been a better time to live and work in China than now. You can get a reasonably well paid job just by being white and speaking English. I've made appearances on TV. I've made company videos where I've pretended to be a scientist in a white coat. My main job in the company I work for is just being there, a sign of excellence (see previous posts). The majority of people are generally fairly friendly and respectful towards you, usually more so than they are to their fellow countrymen. All courtesy of my race (and to a lesser extent, nationality).

A lot of Chinese, apart from some 'up to date', savvy, younger ones, think all white foreigners are American, rich, work as engineers, scientists or lawyers, drive around in expensive cars, have a huge house with a big lawn and white picket fence, and generally live the life of Riley. I met a guy once when I was making a TV programme and he asked me if I was in Xi'an as a manager or an engineer. Being a lowly employee is not something that white people are supposed to do, particularly in China.

It can be a bit embarrassing at times, and it only adds to the ugly superiority complex that some Westerners, particularly Americans, have in China. Although to call it racism, with the negative connotations that word holds, is a bit misleading. When people shout 'laowai' (foreigner) as you're walking down the street, it's because of curiosity or they're trying to be funny, and is completely non-threatening. The last part of this paragraph from the article is a case in point:

"For some white people hired for this purpose, it's not an easy situation to deal with. Ms Swartz felt she was treated like a child and even a 'zoo animal' at the firm. But she needed the job to take care of her newborn baby. She didn't start taking on any real responsibility, such as overseeing clients, until a manager overheard her speaking Mandarin. 'They didn't even read my résumé,' says Ms. Swartz, who studied eight years of Mandarin before moving to China. But she also believes that it's good for white people to experience racism because most people on earth have to deal with it, and 'it doesn't feel good'."

It might not feel great for some white people, but it's a lot better than the treatment dished out to black people. Black people get the hardest time of all. I went with a black friend to discuss making a travel TV programme once, and as we turned up at the door, the man looked at the black guy and his expression told the story very clearly: 'we want the nice looking foreigners'. The black guy left immediately. Black people have a reputation as being either poor, lecherous or both. Chinese men don't really like seeing a white man with a Chinese girl, but a Chinese girl with a black man is particularly galling. Indians, Pakistanis and South/South-East Asians also don't get the red carpet treatment as often as white people.

A couple of other points worth mentioning. Chinese people are very 'financialist', ie, if you're poor, we look down on you, and vice versa. This also applies to foreigners. If you're from a rich area - Western Europe, North America or Australia/NZ - you're good. If you're from a country poorer than China, you're not so good.

Also, a lot of Chinese people don't like to have dark skin. Dark skin shows you're a 农民 'nongmin', or farmer, and that you grew up or still live in the fields, have no 文化 'wenhua' (education) and can't speak standard Mandarin. Having pale skin shows that you're unaffected by the elements, you work in an office and have air conditioning - or for a girl, it means you have a rich husband so you don't have to go out and earn money. I have a friend who is insisting on having an operation to make her skin whiter. The worst insult you can call her is 黑蛋蛋 'hei dandan' - black egg. She always takes an umbrella out when the sun is out to stop herself from getting 晒死了 'shai si le' - tanned.