33 upvotes, 6 direct replies (showing 6)
As a Polish girl, most definitely. I’ve been mingling with a lot of middle class in Germany due to work (physics research ) and the amount of times I was forced to listen to diatribes against Eastern Europeans at friends&family gatherings I was invited to... Astonishing. People also regularly treat me like a zoo animal for being a Cambridge-educated Pole and automatically assume I come from humble circumstances even though my family is certainly more affluent than most Germans I come into contact with. I had my first German partner break up with me due to their parents’ disapproval of a relationship with Pole. Certainly have not heard similar things about POC as, I imagine, they’re both less demonised and less off-limits.
Anyway, after 3 years here, safe to say I will be moving out and social landscape is a big part of it.
Comment by redwhiterosemoon at 19/07/2021 at 06:55 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I am really sorry about your experience!
How would you compare your time in Cambridge to your time in Germany? in terms of discrimination based on your nationality?
Also, if you don't mind me asking where are moving to?
Comment by domi767 at 19/07/2021 at 08:55 UTC
14 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I am also working in academia and I have similar experiences. However I usually don't minge much with Germans. I much more prefer internationals. I had some really bad interactions with Germans lately and I felt super discriminated. Funny thing one was a girl working in the governmental organisation for racism and she flat out told me that I shouldn't live in Germany if I have the opinions that I have. Well sorry not sorry but I think no matter the opinion you can live in Germany. But yeah that hurt. I am sick of Germans who think racism against black people is a bigger issue than racism against Easter Europeans in Germany. No it is not, you just wanna be much more like USA and take on their problems (and be sooo woke) while you wanna completely forget about your own issues.
I cannot wait to move out of Germany and this is one of the big reasons.
Comment by Dangarembga at 19/07/2021 at 06:44 UTC
3 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I‘m sorry this happened to you and unfortunately some people can be total shitbags. However, I don‘t understand how you would get to the conclusion that it must be much worse for you than „POC“ - Trust me, it‘s not any easier for them
Comment by Manadrache at 19/07/2021 at 10:03 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Where I grew up after WW2 a lot of Polish people were told to move there and the Germans had to leave for them. And until today a lot of people still hold a grudge for it. To be fair: it may have been a loss for both groups. It was a very swampy area and not much workplaces around. It was one of the shit holes of Germany. Not because of the war, but because of the geography. This mostly is a problem to the old folks.
. I had my first German partner break up with me due to their parents’ disapproval of a relationship with Pole. Certainly have not heard similar things about POC as
Oh sweet summer child. A guy from Poland (or other east Europeans) would have been fine for my dad, but someone from Africa? Or the middle east? That would never ever happen. He would have beaten the shit out of me. This is was a common point of view.
Then my granny (dutch) would have said I am no longer her family when I would date a Moroccan.
By simple saying people have a problem with eastern Europeans, it is way too easy. Most people have a problem with those who don't integrate. Speaking german is part of it. And don't running fulldrunken through the village.
In our village (different from above mentioned) there are 4 types of Eastern Europeans:
People also regularly treat me like a zoo animal for being a Cambridge-educated Pole
People would already look at you like a zoo animal because you have been from Cambridge. This is something very special. Not like "hey she was at a university in Münster" Cambridge is viewed very elitist, and something only very rich people would think about. Take it as an award, not as something bad. A German telling me he was at Cambridge would get some looks too.
Comment by introvertsdoitbetter at 19/07/2021 at 08:47 UTC*
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I think you mean more off limit - correct? Less off limit would mean they are more likely to be talked about. I think the fact that POC are less commonly talked about is due to lack of historical exposure. The polish have historically intersected with Germany far longer than most other groups. There’s a preexisting familiarity that gives unspoken permission in many minds to speak ill of eastern Europeans including Poles. Sorry about your experience. I am mixed and grew up in Germany, always felt like it was a pretty racist / biased environment.
Comment by askjk12 at 26/10/2021 at 16:24 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Wait until you hear the racism that comes out of the mouths of poles in Poland.