Ethnophobia
There is no such word as ethnophobia in my e-dictionary, so I Yahooed it. The results seem to point that it is some kind of disdain for other people. It could also stem from or lead to racism. I kind of question this definition because it somehow contradicts the etymology of another term, that is ethnocentrism or the belief of superiority of one’s own ethnicity.
I come to think of this word when I came to chat with a friend who is recently working abroad. He would usually relate some experiences and observations about the culture of the country and people he worked with. Last time I asked him if he is already a Roman now in Rome. He told me that he is not. He said that there are other Filipinos in the gym and he is not comfortable behaving like a Roman because he might be an object to rumors.
“So what if they put you in hot seat?” That is my reply to him. I was trying to dare him but I know he would not do anything that is not consistent with his conservative upbringing. That is not my point of interest here however. I have interacted with other Filipinos abroad and there are really some who pointed out that they were not comfortable with their countrymen. Could we call this fear? Is this rational?
I blurted out to my friend that he is ethnophobic, that he is afraid of his own kind or ethnic group. He told me that it is just a discomfort and not really a fear. I said “Ok. I am just over reacting.” I assure him that he can do anything he wants according to his beliefs and philosophies.
Right now, I still keep on thinking if one can be uncomfortable with his own people. If one can be ethnocentric, can’t you be ethnophobic?
3 dialectics:
interesting discourse. i think, it is still possible. i remembered my dad's friend.
my dad happens to have a friend from childhood whose family now living in the US. when my dad met his friend's family over a dinner party in the states, he was surprised on how his friend's family deny the fact that they are filipino on their american friends.
i think ethnophobia happens when their is an extreme discontentment and shame from the race one belongs.
just my two cents.
The question is, why is he not comfortable being with his own race.
it is from my own experience that some pinoys would prefer not to mingle with other races out of insecurity. they often would say it keeps them from feeling homesick or they are just not used to the company or they don't like their "smell". but if i ask them a bit further, it always boils down to that same reason.
other pinoys who actually feel more adventurous in learning about other cultures, on the other hand, sometimes feel limited in doing so. their willingness to explore might be misconstrued by more "conservative" ethnocentric kababayans as unpatriotic, worse, nagmamataas. gossip is a very powerful tool when u are an OFW and since pinoys huddle together like sheep, word spreads fast.
its sad actually. talangka mentality in its finest.
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