(life) Qs re mixed-race Chinese

[karenstanleyma-3]

After having thought for a while about the mixed-race situation Jada brought to our attention, I have questions.  Given that the term "race" is not biologically specific, but instead represents a rather vague idea, and given that different people on the list may or may not have had much experience with these specific issues:

- How much discrimination is there against ethnic minorities indigenous to China, but who can be identified as non-Han Chinese by their appearance?
- How much intermarriage is there between Han Chinese and ethnic majorities (or, for that matter, between different ethnic minorities)?
- Clearly, the person in the article looked much more like her African-American father than her Chinese mother; what about other mixed race children, who may not look as strikingly different, but who nonetheless possess at least some characteristics that mark them as not being "pure" Chinese - do they run into discrimination of various types?
- If you yourself are in a mixed-race marriage in China, do you find people treat *you* differently (and does it vary if the Chinese member of the partnership is male or female)?  Is discrimination against your children, of course in the present, but especially in terms of long-term future, anything you worry about or prepare for?

Karen

[John Pullen]

Speaking just for the areas I have witnessed, I'd say that most Han Chinese people demonstrate discrimination toward anyone who can be identified as non-Han.  In one case while I was being a bit part actor in a film I saw Xin Jiang people treated in ways that definitely descriminated against them and made them feel as if they were not Chinese.  I've also heard the familiar saying that although they are not part of main group of Chinese they do show their happiness in that they love to sing and dance.

As far as my son who is mixed racially Chinese Mom and Anglo-Saxon Father, he was treated very well by his classmates and was the center of attention in most situations.  He has lots of his mother's physical traits yet can be seen to not look like a Han Chinese.  Whether or not he could ever be accepted as a "good" Chinese person I am not sure.  Being known as an American and looking somewhat caucasian might keep him in the curious side of affairs and not one of the gang.

john     Life's a journey not a destination, help others along the way.


> - How much discrimination is there against ethnic
> minorities indigenous to China, but who can be identified as
> non-Han Chinese by their appearance?
> - How much intermarriage is there between Han Chinese and
> ethnic majorities (or, for that matter, between different
> ethnic minorities)?
> Karen



     

[Jada Rufo]

Karen wrote:
 
How much discrimination is there against ethnic
> minorities indigenous to China, but who can be identified as
> non-Han Chinese by their appearance?
> - How much intermarriage is there between Han Chinese and
> ethnic majorities (or, for that matter, between different
> ethnic minorities)?
> Karen

I myself am of mixed race.  I am a third generation Chinese Filipino born and raised in Hawaii.  But then, again, everybody is mixed in Hawaii.  I have friends who are Chinese-Hawaiian-German-Irish-American Indian-Japanese.  Lost?
 
As for how Chinese nationals and how they treated me while I was in China, well, I was only discriminated against one time.  On the phone I sound American.  But when I went to meet this potential employer for a job interview, he just looked at me and said, "You don't look like a foreigner."
 
"I have an American passport and I speak with an American accent.  Therefore, I am a foreigner."
 
Not good enough.  In the end I spent more time travelling on the bus than I did answering his interview questions.
 
Jada


     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Tim Cleary]

This is an interesting subject for me here in the Northeast. I have lived here for several years and, probably increasing visual sensitivity over time, have noticed the variety of physical types that are called "Han" Chinese up here. I have noticed that along with what are traditionally considered Chinese physical traits i.e. eye fold, dark straight hair, sparse body hair, "yellow" skin color, etc., here we have also skin color which is quite "white", high-bridged, long noses, etc.  Historically, there have been repeated influxes of different populations into this area over the years, e.g. Han Chinese mainly from Shandong and Hebei, Koreans, Manchus, Mongols and, in recent times Russians from Siberia.

From talking to my Chinese colleagues about what it means to be "Han", it seems that as long you have most of what I have called the "traditional" physical traits you can be considered Han, both generally and legally. Fact is, if you have these "traits" and want to be considered different, you have to go out of your way to state so. Example, the Hui, I have several students here who come from Hui backgrounds but for all appearances are "Han". This distinction is more important to the Hui (who seemingly don't consider themselves "Chinese").

I know that I have rattled on a bit about different things here, but my point is that relative to my country, the US, whose white population makes many distinctions between each other, e.g. Irish, German, Italian, Spanish, English, Polish, etc., the Chinese seem to make far fewer distinctions among their fellow countrymen from their familial extraction, that is as long as they fall within the basic parameters (with the language also, of course).

Tim
Changchun


     

[Don williamson-2]

This is an interesting, albeit, a most rhetorical subjict. Indeed, the majority of mainland China is Han at about 90% and they do tend to inter-marry within the Han ethnic group. China boasts about 55 other ethnic minorities and officially they are given some special legal advantages. I stress the word "officially" simply because that is a political utterence and not necessaily a matter of practice. The fact is the majority of Han are predjudicial against their fellow Chinese minorities..As a side note, America has it's own ethnic  predjudices that remain a fact even tho much denied from a social-political facade. I understand fully why this girl was/is subjected to animosity once she reached national attention. Truly a pity but I understand it after a number of discussions with personal Chinese friends and all are Han.

My above opinion was reinforced over the years by becoming friends with minority student races whom generally complained of predudice. I think this is characteristic of every culture including the world of Islam.  I philosaphize at times that the world may finally be at peace when we are all of a coffee colored complextion....Naaa!

Btw, last summer I had lunch with a dear Chinese lady friend at a KFC. As a couple we appear about the same age. The restaurant was crowded with no seats open. My friend went to stand in line and order while I waited for an open table. I noticed a good number of stares when we came in as a couple. While standing a couple of girls motioned me over to give us their seats as they were about to leave. I accepted with a smile and thanks. Two Chinese ladies remained at the table and when my friend joined us, we got into discussion and they were curious as to/if we were husband and wife. I asked...Do you think we make a good looking couple? They smiled and vigorsly shook their heads in the affirmastive. I then asked if they approved of a white American marrying a Chinese. Yes again. I then asked if they would feel the same if I were Japinese, or black or South Korean? I could see I had touched a nerve here and both ladies were uncomfortable to the change in
 conversation.

Don


________________________________
From: karenstanleyma <karen.stanley@...>


- How much discrimination is there against ethnic minorities indigenous to China, but who can be identified as non-Han Chinese by their appearance?
- How much intermarriage is there between Han Chinese and ethnic majorities (or, for that matter, between different ethnic minorities)?
Karen