Redditer: Am I overreacting to a potential act of racism? Serious post, need advice

[Flibbertigibbet]

Am I overreacting to a potential act of racism? Serious post, need advice​

Discus
I was standing near the lift in the middle of the MRT platform, waiting for the train to arrive. Seats were occupied so I was leaning against the lift shaft to support my back. When the train arrived, a middle aged Chinese woman alighted from the train and started walking towards the lift. She caught sight of me upon alighting and made a dramatic gesture of pinching her nose. We were a considerable distance from each other at this point. I had just started walking towards the train doors at the time.

We crossed each other shortly. She continued pinching her nose. I was so taken aback by what she did that I turned around to look at her, just to confirm that I wasn’t seeing things. She continued pinching her nose it all the way until she entered the lift, and then removed her hand from her face just as the lift doors were closing.

For context I’m Singaporean Indian. I don’t often deal with overt acts of racism irl, so I don’t really know what to make of this incident. I‘ve played the incident back in my head over and over and tried to rationalise the incident by assuming she was dealing with sinuses or something, but there would be obvious signs of that, like sniffling or itching. Plugging her nose from door to door at the very sight of an Indian person is….. I can’t help but think it was a prejudicial act.

Really need input from people here because this is really bothering me. It’s one thing to be called a slur, but being treated like you’re a carrier of disease by a total stranger is completely dehumanising & demoralising. Esp in your own country.

 

[Flibbertigibbet]

Why the majority of culprits that stink are of a certain race, you can't blame those who cover their noses. That's life. Nothing racist about it. I hate it too when the brown or whatever colour people who board the train stinks.

 

[Dongyi]

Why the majority of culprits that stink are of a certain race, you can't blame those who cover their noses. That's life. Nothing racist about it. I hate it too when the brown or whatever colour people who board the train stinks.

I also pinch my nose when I see pastors.

 

[Flibbertigibbet]

I also pinch my nose when I see pastors.

I would have thought you give them a dirty look

 

[bobby]

Sometimes the truth does hurt

 

[Dongyi]

This is not racism; it's hygiene.

 

[True Believer]

This is not racism; it's hygiene.

Dongyi, why do you keep talking to yourself? Flibbertigibbet is your other moniker, right?

 

[True Believer]

I also pinch my nose when I see pastors.

Do you hold tightly onto your wallet when you see Buddhist monks approaching you?

 

[True Believer]

Why the majority of culprits that stink are of a certain race, you can't blame those who cover their noses. That's life. Nothing racist about it. I hate it too when the brown or whatever colour people who board the train stinks.

All races have body odour to some degree (especially those who do not drive) living in hot and humid S'pore.