It’s a very personal topic, but I would love to hear your guys’ suggestion on this.
I am an immigrant coming from Eastern Europe living in a more developed country (so they say) . I’ve made alot of good connections and landed a good job here, but I still get somewhat degrading remarks at this job, mostly about me being from a less developed country and all. Usually I take their remarks as a joke and I play along with it but I do notice that I start to get even less respect.
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I don’t want to get defensive but at the same time, I feel like I’m really being downgraded… has anyone been in a similar position? I’m just confused on what I should do because I know If I go too hard then I might lose the job
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How long have you been an immigrant?
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“Joke” back. Find some stereotype about whatever nationality they are and throw it back at them.
That way you aren’t getting butt hurt mad, but you’re u aren’t sitting and taking it.
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About a year, even though the rest of my family lived here for at least 12 years
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I’ll do that, the thing is that I’m afraid I’ll offend the ones who have control over the company then, since I’m joking back about their heritage
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Now I’m starting to realise how pathetic I sound…
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Communicate how it feels. If they just make fun of you more they’re assholes. I struggle with this too. It’s conflict. The answer isn’t to go all alpha and demand respect. Give them a chance. Maybe they don’t know how disrespectful it is.
You’re not pathetic. They’ve clearly overstepped a boundary of yours, don’t play it off as jokes if you’re not ok with it.
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I don’t have the answer to this question. I don’t think there is one simple answer to it But I don’t think you’re pathetic at all. That’s ridiculous.
People act like assholes every day. How does that make you pathetic?
I think there are short term ways to handle disrespect, and there are long term ways.
In the moment, you do what you need to do to preserve your dignity or to leave the interaction behind.
In the long term though, you stockpile dignity, accomplishment, and self respect. You have nothing to prove to anyone. But it can take some time and work to get to the point where you really realize that.
For better or worse, we are human. And, as much as we try to hide it, we do affect each other. It’s part of our nature. There’s no shame in it.
My own aspiration is dignity. To be bigger than someone who would try to put me down. Rather than sinking to the same level.
Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don’t.
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We all go through it. I’ve been an immigrant most of my life. You’ll get used to the remarks and the looks. Just focus on the opportunities in front of you. Anything else is irrelevant! The more you pay attention to idiots, the more powerful they look. They’re just idiots. Go your way, build your life. That’s it.
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Thank you @ksub and @Fractal_Explorer
It’s a relief to know you guys get me and my lil situation
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@Malkuth I absolutely love what you said. I kept reading it over and over so it registers in my mind, but anyway, thank you
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I do feel like I should communicate to them that I don’t like this somehow
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Can’t work in a place where you’re being constantly picked on
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No one says you have to stay there forever! Here is my advice:
1 - Work as hard as possible to get a promotion at your job and use that promotion to get a better job elsewhere. The more you move, the more self-confidence and resilience you’ll build and the less attention you’ll pay to the things that frustrate you now. It’s always useful to have something to shoot for. If you put all your effort into getting a promotion at work, inevitably, the same idiots will try to pick on you, but you will also develop smart and assertive ways to deal with them. At one point, adversity will become your ally. I’ve seen this happen more times than I can remember!
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I would love to hear your story as well, being an immigrant and all…
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My story is that of thousands of other immigrants. We came from a place that had almost no opportunities to offer and we went to a place where opportunities do exist.
I came, I saw opportunities, I went after them and I made something of myself. Funny enough, my personal issues and challenges have nothing to do with my immigrant status. The reason why I run subs is to become a better person. I don’t think I have ever felt frustrated because people could pick on me due to being an immigrant. Those people don’t even exist in my world. That’s how little attention I pay to them. The few times someone was brave enough to openly express xenophobic opinions towards me, I always addressed it loudly. I didn’t come this long way to be disrespected. I’ll be damned if I let myself be bothered by idiots. 
Little is too short, there are too many things to do, and too many challenges to overcome. There is too much success available to us. That’s what I’ve always been focused on. Who’s got time for xenophobic morons? Bro, just keep ascending! Those idiots were already idiots before you got there. They are being idiots while you’re there. They’ll still be idiots after you leave for a better job. 
Stay focused and keep ascending.
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Bro I love that you took time to write that, but would you mind sending me a private message?
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Emperor the will of Power
Will do the trick
All the best to your Journey
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