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Prejudism extends beyonds skin colour

(79 Posts)
Newatthis Thu 05-Aug-21 14:15:04

Being prejudice and judgemental can extend far beyond the colour of people skin. I am from Liverpool and recently I went to a supper at someone's house. When I walked in one of the guys, who clearly thought he was funny, said ' here she is, lock up your handbags ladies and keep your eye on them'. He clearly though that as I was from Liverpool then I must have also been a thief. I also remember a friend, who was a little overweight, was told (not so long ago) that she wasn't successful in her job application as a receptionist as she was 'too heavy'. Why is the human race like this. Does it matter, what colour people are, how they speak, where they live or what they look like?.

Rosycheeks Fri 06-Aug-21 08:57:25

Polarbear2 and Redhead56. Im a titian haired pale skinned person.
I hated being called oi ginge or ginger mxxxge which people always thought was funny, or collers and cuffs match. But no one thought that it was out of order. Ive been called loads of names because of my hair colour but I dont care now, no grey hairs yet ,but when I was young it really hurt.?‍?

Savvy Fri 06-Aug-21 08:58:43

As a 4'10" disabled woman, I get a load of prejudice all the time. People assume I'm thick, talk to me like I'm a child and think they know my limitations better than I do. Its more than annoying.

I worked all my life until my disability stopped me, but people tell me I don't know what its like to work for a living. My disability means I'm overweight because my lymphatic system is being crushed by osteochrondomas so I swell in various places, but I'm told, regularly, that I'm a 'lardy' who must sit around the house all day watching TV and eating junk food. When I needed to move house, I was offered a tiny flat and the housing officer made the comment that all I'd need in the lounge was a chair and the TV could go on the wall! When I pointed out that I don't have a TV, but I do have a large library, and needed space for crafts, I got a disapproving look for answering back!

lemongrove Fri 06-Aug-21 09:01:21

Rosycheeks

Polarbear2 and Redhead56. Im a titian haired pale skinned person.
I hated being called oi ginge or ginger mxxxge which people always thought was funny, or collers and cuffs match. But no one thought that it was out of order. Ive been called loads of names because of my hair colour but I dont care now, no grey hairs yet ,but when I was young it really hurt.?‍?

It’s Irish prejudice again ( ginger) rearing it’s ugly head.

Mollygo Fri 06-Aug-21 09:08:55

When we moved from Liverpool, some of our very nice new neighbours said, “Oh it must be a relief to be away from there!”
I didn’t point out that, according to a support group I worked with, we’d moved to a place with one of the highest rates of suicide and domestic abuse.
JaneJudge, Kali2, maddyone, JaxJacky gringringrin. You made me choke on my cup of tea!

timetogo2016 Fri 06-Aug-21 09:10:59

I have said many times on GN,you can`t educate the stupid and i can now add the ignorant.
There are thieves everwhere from all kinds of race and backgrounds.
If someone said anything like that to me they would have a bollocking and a half there and then.
Try and make a point of saying something if it happens again Newatthis.

Rosycheeks Fri 06-Aug-21 09:14:54

Oh and there is a "kiss a ginger day" and also a "Kick a ginger day" ?‍♀️

timetogo2016 Fri 06-Aug-21 09:24:37

Yes i heard about "Kiss a ginger day" a few years ago Rosycheeks.
My x is ginger not happening.

Whiff Fri 06-Aug-21 09:36:36

I moved from the West Midlands to a Liverpool suburb . I live from 1980 to 2019 in the same village. I never had the neighbours I have now. My neighbours care about me. My postman after I had been here 3 days knocked my door and introduced himself.

I went away for a few days a couple of weeks ago and didn't tell my neighbours. Because they know my routine they got worried. So one of my neighbours was looking through my windows in case I was collapsed on the floor. Luckily my daughter came round the next day to water my greenhouse and my neighbour was so relieved to fine out I was fine. When I got home went and promised I would tell them when I was going away again.

All through lockdown that started in March last year my neighbours when they went shopping asked if I needed anything.

Never had that in the Midlands. Also health care is superior to that in the Midlands.

There's an old saying never judge a book by it's cover.

It rings true.

henetha Fri 06-Aug-21 10:15:35

I experienced quite a lot of prejudice against me when I was young because I was illegitimate and adopted. It was a dreadful stigma back then. Thank goodness it no longer is.

Forestflame Fri 06-Aug-21 14:12:11

A few years ago I had a neighbour with red hair. He told me once that he went to a party held by his work, 2 of his female colleagues pulled down his trousers and undies to see "if his collar and cuffs matched".
Appallingangry

M0nica Fri 06-Aug-21 14:13:49

lemongrove when you spoke of your car disaster in Oxford you added the phrase ...yes, the city of dreaming spires, as if people would be shocked that it had happened in a place like Oxford, with its connotations of dreaming spires, academia and beautiful buildings. But has also been the centre of the British car industry for 100 years or more and I ssupect that in the pass far more worked in the car plant then worke in the unversity.

Redhead56 Fri 06-Aug-21 14:49:45

I did struggle as a child with the sometimes disgusting comments about redheads. As a young woman I was called Lucy by my male colleagues. I was delighted as she was my favourite actress but she wasn’t a natural redhead.

lemongrove Fri 06-Aug-21 14:56:26

M0nica I hate to be pedantic but you wrote ‘ a poster was shocked’....when I certainly wasn’t shocked as I know there is as much crime in Oxford as most other cities.
However quite a few people may be surprised ( we had visitors recently who were surprised by it).Not everyone knows about all the car building but they all know it’s a university place with many lovely Colleges and ancient buildings.

25Avalon Fri 06-Aug-21 15:06:58

I hate this word prejudism which is not a real English word. The word should be prejudice. I guess you could say I am prejudiced against this word!

Fennel Fri 06-Aug-21 15:12:24

@ Forest flame - I was a redhead - white now but my pubes and some eyebrow hairs are still ginger grin
It never bothered me when I was young. maybe because there were many other redheads where I lived, and in my near and extended family.

kircubbin2000 Fri 06-Aug-21 16:58:00

One of the nearby towns here is known for people with extra toes and no brains. I even read a review of a new restaurant which was very good surprisingly as it was in Xxxxx.I do know why it gets that reputation though.?

valdali Fri 06-Aug-21 17:33:32

I was in the bus station at Victoria (London) queuing for a ticket on a friday evening to get back to my home in Bristol after working all week. For some reason there was a really long queue, 50 minute wait, so one coach came & went and the next was leaving soon. I asked the woman who was serving me if she could be as quick as possible as my bus was leaving imminently, she was quite shirty and went even slower. When I paid I got out my disabled card and she looked at it and said "If you're disabled you shouldn't be complaining. Disabled people should be humble". this was only 8 years ago.I don't usually make a fuss but I did write in, didn't know her name but described which booth and exact time, TfL did reply and say she was being re-trained and gave me a free ticket. Everyone knows you can't act this way about skin colour, not that it would cross my mind to, why do they think it's OK to talk to disabled people like this?

Eloethan Fri 06-Aug-21 17:42:04

I think that was an absolutely disgraceful remark. Like you, I suspect I would have been so taken aback that I would have been unlikely to think of a suitable riposte.

People can be so ignorant and rude. When I visited my Mum in Suffolk buses were few and far between and sometimes I had to take a taxi. I could guarantee that if a taxi driver asked where I had come from and I said London, I would then get an outpouring of nasty comments "horrible, dirty place, full of foreigners, llike living in another country" etc. etc." Because I was prepared for these sorts of remarks, I usually challenged them, but some things are so unexpectedly rude it takes your breath away.

valdali Fri 06-Aug-21 17:46:58

I was totally taken aback, had to rush for my coach, then had the 2 hour journey to sit there fuming!

Eloethan Sat 07-Aug-21 13:46:28

valdali I'm glad to complained afterwards. What a dreadful remark.

Redhead56 Sat 07-Aug-21 19:54:30

I was one of eight children the only redhead parents not redheads. I stood out from the rest of my family.

harrigran Sat 07-Aug-21 20:17:46

DH had lovely red hair, I was disgusted that people made fun of redheads so for twenty years I had my hair dyed red and only stopped when DH started to go grey.

Rosycheeks Sun 08-Aug-21 07:16:35

Im one of 8, 5 of us were red heads and my dad but my mum had red headed twin DHs. Ive got 6 redheaded nieces and nephews.

Rosycheeks Sun 08-Aug-21 07:17:23

Im im meant my mum had twin redheaded DBs

Lincslass Sun 08-Aug-21 07:54:43

25Avalon

I hate this word prejudism which is not a real English word. The word should be prejudice. I guess you could say I am prejudiced against this word!

I too wondered why prejudism had been used, it is prejudice as you say. I too am prejudiced against prejudism .