It's not just Scottish people that experience negative assumptions based on their accent. There still seems to be a common belief that northern or west-country accent = thick, not well-educated etc.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
The lady in waiting should not have been so gauche, aggressive even, in her questioning.
She should not have moved the person’s hair away from the name badge without asking permission. Upthread the word “shoved” was used - a loaded word used without evidence.
She might have a very direct manner as is not uncommon among folk of a certain age and background. She might even be suffering from character changes as a consequence of ageing.
Yet her sixty years of experience has undoubtedly brought her into contact with people from all walks of life. I expect that experience has demonstrated that asking about someone’s heritage opens up interesting, engaged conversations.
The lady from the charity was clearly proud of her heritage judging by her choice of clothing. She should have expected people to take an interest in her cultural background.
She should have positioned her badge so it could be clearly read and the name of her charity was visible to all.
I think what happened is that the conversation started clumsily, the fault of the lady in waiting, and from then on they both adopted slightly defensive positions. The problem is we have only seen a transcript of the conversation and do not know if words were spoken with a smile, a wink. Assuming not, then I think it is right that the lady in waiting steps back from her position. What a huge shame, though, it had to happen so publicly and so ignominiously after 60 years of unblemished service.
I had an interesting conversation at work recently about gender balance. I should say that I don't believe any of the people I work with these days are sexist, either consciously or unconsciously (as an engineer in the construction industry for the last 40 years, I've met plenty who are). This was about the nature of group discourse and how men can accidentally dominate without any intention to do so. It was observed that some men don't recognise their own privilege. I think quite a lot of this topic has shown how many white people are also not conscious of their privilege and I am quite sure that this was the fundamental issue with the exchange between the LiW and the charity worker.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I'm glad that so far that I have not been classed as being racist (as far as I'm aware) for asking a whole variety of people about where they're from. I will still ask if I talk to someone with an accent - or to someone who appears to have a different ethnicity either by colour or name or.... Why shouldn't I? I've had loads of good conversations with people around the world about their and my travels and experiences.
@punkdoc says it was obviously racist - as the conversation potentially leads to 'go home' - but it didn't go there at all in this case. Is this then the Minority Report where something is judged on what 'will' happen - not on what has happened?
I'm not sure what the LiW has done for 60 years - maybe never attended such a function - or maybe this will lead to a #metoo moment where a whole variety of people were asked by her where they came from - and they will all now appear on news broadcasts.
Where are your lines for 'ordinary people's lives' - what is ordinary? £30k? £40k? £120k? £500k? £1m. And class is only a money-time construct isn't it? ...
Goodness me no ... class is only tangentially about money, it's much more to do with connections and who your family/your people are/were. Richard Branson, James Dyson and the Rausing family will never be Upper Class ... their daughters might, if they marry well.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
The lady in waiting should not have been so gauche, aggressive even, in her questioning.
She should not have moved the person’s hair away from the name badge without asking permission. Upthread the word “shoved” was used - a loaded word used without evidence.
She might have a very direct manner as is not uncommon among folk of a certain age and background. She might even be suffering from character changes as a consequence of ageing.
Yet her sixty years of experience has undoubtedly brought her into contact with people from all walks of life. I expect that experience has demonstrated that asking about someone’s heritage opens up interesting, engaged conversations.
The lady from the charity was clearly proud of her heritage judging by her choice of clothing. She should have expected people to take an interest in her cultural background.
She should have positioned her badge so it could be clearly read and the name of her charity was visible to all.
I think what happened is that the conversation started clumsily, the fault of the lady in waiting, and from then on they both adopted slightly defensive positions. The problem is we have only seen a transcript of the conversation and do not know if words were spoken with a smile, a wink. Assuming not, then I think it is right that the lady in waiting steps back from her position. What a huge shame, though, it had to happen so publicly and so ignominiously after 60 years of unblemished service.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.