Re: Henna racism - just a rant

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Posted by Catherine Cartwright-Jones on June 8, 2003 at 20:18:06:

In reply to: Henna racism - just a rant posted by PPC on June 8, 2003 at 19:51:02:

I'm running 37 crashes out of 40 potential Indian weddings from
precisely that problem. Even when I was hennaing flat out in front of
women at a Hindu wedding, I was treated rudely, insulted, and the
Indian henna artist tried to take my henna. Twice.

Last week I nearly lost it with a woman ... her son called me up to
arrange bridal henna. All was nicely sorted, I was doing the gig, the
price was right. 3 minutes later his mother calls and goes ballistic.
No way in hell could I possibly have the first clue about henna. At
the point that I knew I'd already lost the job, I said "People in
India drive cars and use computers, don't they? Why can't I henna?"

As a business woman I know how to shut up and bite my tongue as hard
as necessary to secure a sale .... when I work the phone call I'm
sweet as roses and honey, so I know I'm not spoiling the deal myself.
Also, I NEED more of this work as part of PhD research .. and the
door's slammed in my face nearly every time.

I'd use the word "ethnocentrism" rather than racism ... and it's
certainly not everyone, but there are enough Auntie Bibi's that are
"turfish" about henna to make life tough.

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: I'm running 37 crashes out of 40 potential Indian weddings from : precisely that problem. Even when I was hennaing flat out in front of : women at a Hindu wedding, I was treated rudely, insulted, and the : Indian henna artist tried to take my henna. Twice. : : Last week I nearly lost it with a woman ... her son called me up to : arrange bridal henna. All was nicely sorted, I was doing the gig, the : price was right. 3 minutes later his mother calls and goes ballistic. : No way in hell could I possibly have the first clue about henna. At : the point that I knew I'd already lost the job, I said "People in : India drive cars and use computers, don't they? Why can't I henna?" : : As a business woman I know how to shut up and bite my tongue as hard : as necessary to secure a sale .... when I work the phone call I'm : sweet as roses and honey, so I know I'm not spoiling the deal myself. : Also, I NEED more of this work as part of PhD research .. and the : door's slammed in my face nearly every time. : : I'd use the word "ethnocentrism" rather than racism ... and it's : certainly not everyone, but there are enough Auntie Bibi's that are : "turfish" about henna to make life tough.
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