I recently went shopping for new clothes suitable for the office as I have started a new job. Specifically I felt I needed things that showed less cleavage. On my first day on the job, I noticed that I was not the only one with such considerations. I mentioned this to a (female) colleague who … Continue reading »
Author Archives: sinoangle
Dear WAP
We exchanged a few emails at the beginning of the year when I helped you get information on citizenship for your child. We even met at that cultural event. And then you wrote to me frustrated that you couldn’t find any cultural activity for your very small child. My response that cultural communities had no … Continue reading »
¡Viva la opresión!
Recently I have been struck by the profoundly embedded nature of certain –isms. Most people would agree that, in the professional world – the glass ceiling, wage differentials and the occasional sexual harassment lawsuit not withstanding – sexism is a phenomenon that rarely rears its ugly head. ;-) Seriously, most women would probably agree that … Continue reading »
More Canadian racism
Shipyard workers in the Vancouver area are taking legal action for unfair dismissal on the grounds of racism. Didn’t we have a ‘noose’ category? Continue reading »
Expert?
“No country in the world has made more progress toward combating overt racism than [the United States],” says David Schneider, a Rice University psychologist and the author of “The Psychology of Stereotyping.” “But the most popular stereotype of black people is still that they’re violent. And for a lot of people, not even racist people, … Continue reading »
Will French POCs finally be seen?
Let me be clear about this: I am not a fan of Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s “playboy” president. I would not have voted for him and I don’t normally agree with much he says. But I have to agree with the statement he issued regarding his plan to collect voluntary data on race: He said the … Continue reading »
Racist literature – or teaching?
So how useful do you think studying a classic anti-racist work of literature is in teaching children about anti-racism? A student of African heritage in the UK doesn’t think it’s very useful at all. The book in question is Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mocking Bird: “People speak like that in real life but we … Continue reading »
Colour and the City
Yesterday evening, I watched (again) the Modeliser episode of Sex and the City. There’s a scene at the end where Miranda and Skipper bump into each other at a corner store. The owner is Asian. For some reason, I actually watched the credits, where the role is listed as “Korean grocer”. There was only one … Continue reading »
What people of colour think
To all those involved in a love relationship with a person of colour, (whether that be parental, romantic, fraternal or platonic) We here at RR would like you to know that every time you condone racism, your SPOC (significant person of colour) feels sad feels alone wonders, if you can have these feelings about others, … Continue reading »
Exercise in privilege
Respecting ethnic groups Role play MESSAGE You, a francophone Acadian, are on a foreign planet with a Chinese person, a black African, an English person, an Amerindian. You receive the following radio message: ATTENTION! IMPORTANT MESSAGE. THE PLANET YOU ARE ON IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE. A ROCKET IS ON ITS WAY, WITH ROOM FOR THREE … Continue reading »