Ethnicity is an interesting topic. In your CouchSurfing profile there is room to say what your ethnicity is. There are recurring discussions among CouchSurfers whether that is good or not. Casey thinks this is the main reason to keep it: it fosters discussions about ethnicity.

Interesting quotes

• [NaSrul]:.."We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend".

A Greece colonist felt in love with a native Brazilian

• "We announce the birth of a conceptual country, Nutopia. Citizenship of the country can be obtained by declaration of your awareness of Nutopia. Nutopia has no land, no boundaries, no passports, only people. Nutopia has no laws other than cosmic. All people of Nutopia are ambassadors of the country."

This is why I stated I am Nutopian [JonasMendoza]

Keep or ditch

"Keep it"

• gurghet: Great thing to talk about!

• papasteed: I spent a semester doing a research project based on exactly this subject- and my conclusion is very simple: ethnicity is a very personal thing- it is a personal connection with any group of people. Noone can dispute anyone else's claim to their ethnic identification. If you feel like you are Elbonian.. you ARE!! That identification can change with age or circumstance. It is especially interesting to observe over long periods of time, the way governments poll their citizens (through census), to see which specific categories are suggested, or not. Entire ethnic groups have been "erased" by governments trying to manipulate ethnic identification, in this way. Discussions regarding the currently unpopular term "race" tend to run into serious issues quickly. The Nazis tried to categorize people by nose width and hair type. South Africa under apartheid used a pencil method for determing race. Ethnicity is simple and noone is required to use any term they don't like. It is easy and useful and interesting for others.

• [[User:unknown|unknown]How is ethnicity considered? My parents are Indian but born in East Africa and I am English the fact that I was born (t)here but I live in France and have alot of family in Canada - what does that make me??!! Multi-cultural surely :)

• Kalaheo: Ethnicity sounds a bit politically correct (PC) but maybe "Ancestry" or "Heritage" will do if a change is voted into place. I love the fact that many people just put in some kind of Universal or Fantastic descriptions if they so choose. For sure people may just leave BLANK if they aren't up for relating their gene pool, which is fine.=°)
• Maoriboy: Being New Zealand Maori, alot of how i see myself,the world around me and my place in it is related to my ethnicity. When Maori ask "Kei whea Koe?" (where are you from?) they asking not only where you came from (physically) but also things around genealogy and questions of spirituality. I can't speak for all Maori but this is what i was taught. Ethnicity is pivital to identity

• Maged: why we should let racists dictate us what to do??, racists will never force me to hide my identity including my Ethnicity which Iam very proud of.

and if some one enjoy racists tell him/her what to do then no need to mention his ethnicity on his/her profile and this is not a reason enough to deprive me of mentioning my ethnicity.

• luna1^TalkCS

• metal.lunchbox^TalkCS How else could pirates be representin' Arrgg! (Me ethnicity=pirate)

• Anu^TalkCS: for me this is to tell potential hosts and other surfers which part of the world I'm originally from, and allows me to set my "home address" to wherever I'm currently wandering (it's optional anyhow (?) so people who don't wish to fill in the field don't have to)

• Calum^TalkCS: It makes for fun statements such as "Couchsurfer", "Homo sapiens sapiens", and what I've set mine to - "Bairn of Jock Tamson" :)

• kaoxoni^TalkCS At first I kept the ethnicity field blank. Politically correct for a German. Later I put up "Kraut. Neither ashamed nor proud". Why? ...I think people from almost all other countries don't even know that Germans have a deep suspicion for waving flags. Next to no people on earth has an identity phobia like the Germans had. Finally the healing has begun. Hard to explain how it felt - to see my country flag in every window for the first time when I was already 30 years old. I was waiting for something bad, hostile, and martial to happen. The opposite was the case. Then I bought my own flag - for the world cup. Cos all the cool kids from everywhere on the planet showed there's not necessarily hostile in showing one's colours. Don't wanna miss it anymore. The flag thread is not as off-topic as it may seem. I'm not a nationalist for not hiding my flag, and I'm not a racist for giving an information that might be interesting to someone else. (sorry, won't go shorter)

• theJDMBA^TalkCS: Having a similar background in a foreign country can be comforting to persons first trying couchsuring. As Canadians living in London, we have had many Canadians and Americans staying with us indicate that they felt comfortable and welcomed having someone with a similar background - I would imagine the comfort level would be even greater if we lived in a place that is more dissimilar from the US or Canada!

• dominika1980^Talk Being Polish is part of who I am. In this time and age the "where I grew up" section doesn't really describe it fully. A lot of us don't stay in one place forever but that doesn't mean we have no roots. Plus, to me personally traveling is all about discovering those awesome differences. Getting to know the world from various perspectives makes us understand it better.

• hungrysteve^CS I like that it gives every individual the chance to define what ethnicity means to them and choose whatever ethnicity they identify with. Long live the donuts.

• metal.lunchbox It's optional. what's the harm. I here things like "it doesn't exist, that's scientifically proven" somewhat often but I'm just not buying it. People identify themselves in various ways, lets embrace that. Just don't make it a search criterion.

• Rach0910^Talk I don't use it, myself, but some people do. If you leave the field empty nothing comes up. You therefore have Choice.

• ROBERTM : This field speaks as much about a persons character as any other part of the profile. As an Aussie, I could come from many backgrounds, but I'm more Aussie than anything else. If people leave it blank then it's saying something about their own perspective on who they are perhaps? At the end of the day we're all individuals who make our own footprints on the world....

• Casa DabBowTei: Well, we could say two Americans of German descent and one American of Russian Jew and English descent. That would be accurate. But we say "white as wonder bread" because that's accurate too (have you seen how badly I tan???). We live in a racially touchy city -- Washington DC -- and in a racially changing neighborhood. Ignoring it is not an option. Copping to it paves the way for more honest discussions. Being able to laugh about it helps even more. Seeing how someone else describes themselves (almost more than what they actually call themselves) tells me a little more about them.

• Shufei: Ethnicity embraces far more than intracultural taxonomies of racial caste or color. In showing affinity with the clans, cultures, and heritages that contribute to who a person becomes, one expresses the very pluralism this site is supposed to celebrate. Acknowledging this does not encourage rejection of difference, but rather opens up the color pallete we use in painting our selves within this forum. On the other hand, to ellide or obscure our varigated tribes would not create neutrality, but rather an assumption of homogeneity. It would be a step toward discursive hegemony, favoring the Western myth of the heroic individual over the social person.

• Shameless Heather: What strikes me as funny here is that "ethnicity" is a bad word. The fact is, the connotation for the word has been tarnished by terms such as "ethnic cleansing," but the concept in and of it self is not a disparaging one. What sort of connections, conclusions or decisions are made with that information is up to receiver of that information, ie, the one who sees that I am Irish and stuff (should I choose to put that in there, I think mine says "superstar", far more revealing about the culture with which I identify). Nationality is a different thing. I'm Irish and Scandinavian and German and Cherokee and Jewish in my cultural heritage, but I'm just plain old American. Many Americans (as well as citizens of other countries) are all mushed up like that. Global community in effect, huh. Our ancestors figured out sea voyage! Woo-Hoo! The point I'm getting to is, this project is all about cultural (ie ethnic) exposure and cultural education which leads to cultural understanding and ultimately celebration of our diversity and sameness. I don't think denial of the idea of "ethnicity" gets us closer to realizing that mission. The problem I see is that the word "ethnicity" is touchy because it's the word that's been closely liked with racism. (Race is the only worser one, I think.) So I think there are two options: keep it as ethnicity and share ideas and educate through the adding a link to wiki discussion in the edit profile area, or change the wording to focus more on cultural heritage. I don't support removing it because just succumbing to the notion that ethnicity should be denied or hidden just puts it in the closet and disparages it more--like it's something to be ashamed of. Shame is lame.

I think we should keep it why? because it is interesting. there is nothing wrong with saying I look like African but I am actually born and raised in Canada for 20 generations......we cannot say do not call a lion lion because the Hyena is going to be mad.....let us just chill and have the option to say or not to say!

• Amat: I'm German, and that is what my "ethnicity field" says. I was asked for it, and because I've got no reason to lie, I wrote it down. I think it should be kept, because often someone who was once a stranger to a place can show it a lot better to other strangers (i.e. me) than the ones who grew up there. And I just might wanna pick an Italian living in Australia to surf with, just because he's also considered a stranger in this country. ;)

• Grobat: I see 2 good reasons to keep the ethnicity field:

.1. You may fill it or leave it blank .2. You may write whatever you want That's enough freedom to me. I also don't see what some don't like in the "ethnicity" or "ethnic" word. I love it! It is clear enough to know what we're talking about, and it's blur enough to let anyone include what (s)he wants in it, either it being genetic, tradition, culture, language, whatever heritage or self-built culture. If a common, traditional ethnicity sticks to you although it's not what describes you the best, just invent your own word(s). Your ethnicity is bearing clichés just like the country you're from, your haircut, colors you wear, languages you speak, food you eat... If you remove the ethnicity field, just remove everything else as it could give information on your private life! No, better leave other people a chance to know and understand what is part of your culture and your own identity.

• varnav: Ethnicity is something that really exists, and I don't understand this modern "politically correct" fashion to pretend that all nationalities are the same and there is no differences between cultures and peoples. Anyway, this field is optional, right?

• amadeus7206: It is, what it is. If you ignore all connotation of the word "Ethnicity" it just provides another way of members to express themselves. I enjoy the extra chance for expression. My ethnicity is "White as Wonderbread". It matters less that I'm an Irish-French-Anglo-Peruvian-American mutt and more that I have a sense of humor and care little for titles. CS is about sharing yourself without bias or judgement of others.

"Ditch it"

There are concepts that divide us and concepts that unite us. Ethnicity has a complete history of being used to divide, segment, discriminate, the word and concept is LOADED and so beside the point. The concept of CS is to unite, to make the world a smaller place, a community. To do this we celebrate our uniqueness and our different cultures - replace Ethnicity with CULTURE or TRIBE, i am happy to talk about my culture (or lack thereof as an American) or about my Tribe, but I really have nothing to share regarding my Ethnicity." DITCH IT entirely or change the word. As far as promoting discussion on race and ethnicity - save that for other websites, besides, those opinions that need changing regarding ethnicity will never be changed by thoughtful words, and those folks would not be part of the collective of CS anyway. Did I say Ditch It already?

• A 19th century category. Even if there is a possible definition (it is not): it's outdated and abused. For descriptions we have a field "personal decriptions", to state membership of a special group, we have groups. midsch^CS 11:51, 10 December 2006 (EST)
• It's very strange for me to find this. It's one of many very "USA" aspects of CS :-( And it's should be illegal in France to collect ethnicity datas. Manu ( http://www.couchsurfing.com/profile.html?id=RW87A ).
• this is far to american, like the whole african american thing, where I once read an article about a white south african who filled out a form saying she was african american and was told she wasn't lol. I see this can have pro's and con's so I guess leave it, but it is far to american for a world site.
• During the WW2 in France, Jewish have been asked to register to the state so that they will be protected, but then those lists have been given to the nazis who used those datas to collect the people they were interested in. This is why in France it is now forbidden to keep datas about religion or ethnicity about someone (even if it's non-personnal informations) and that is also why i always feel a bit bad with it. Patriksson 22:00, 3 June 2007 (EDT)
• I totally agree with Midsch. There are possibilities for people who wanted to say something about there Culture. There is also no extra Field for Sexuality. It's not usefull.--Queery 06:52, 9 August 2007 (EDT)
• Sitarane says: There is a significant amount of people that would not know what to fill. When they encounter the field, they will (seriously, I come from there, they WILL) be pretty pissed off. Ditch!
• you?

"Replace Ethnicity with Culture and Roots"

• Dario.^TalkCS : "I think that the only ethnical information that can matter is the culture a person belong to, and this is part of what people means with the word "Ethnicity" and is the part that can be useful. Unfortunately in some countries this word can also means race, and this can obviously offend people with a culture that doesn't ignore the consequences of using this category. If I host someone I care which is his/her culture (for example Brazilian, or Japanese/American), but I don't care and I think that in this community no-one should care which is the color of his/her skin, eyes, and hair. So I propose to replace the word Ethnicity with the expression Culture and Roots that doesn't create misunderstanding about race. (19th of June 2007)

• you?

• I don't think ethnicity should be replaced by culture and roots but combined with them. A new word is necessary to describe the interplay between all three things: ethnicity - your ancestry, culture - your community, roots - where you where born and raised. "EthCuRoo?" We probably need something from the language of a former nomadic culture that is now living in cities

"Whatever"

• Guaka^TalkCS
• Tiziano^TalkCS : "I didn't fill it in, cause I felt that I don't belong to a specific etnicity, but to all of them :) a bit like what Mikky Mouth wrote in that field on his profile :). 'Maybe we can just rename it'??? And find a more "lucky" name... "ethnicity" is a "unlucky" word, with that I mean that it's kinda surpassed in my own humble opinion... We are a community where we promote mutual cultural exchange experience and understanding, ethnicity seems to me to recall XXth century issues that with CS we should overtake (that's why I said "unlucky").

You might give a look to Wikipedia under the paragraph "Ethnic Ideology" to better understand what I mean. I quite agree with DERGAUKLER."

• Q-FUNK: I'm split on the issue: On one hand, I indeed have an ethnic background and citizenship, both of which somewhat shape my behavior and my perspective. On the other hand, "home" has been in a different country for a decade and I identify a lot more to this place, its language and its values, to the point that people everywhere behave accordingly: to them, I'm as good as a genuine Finn. This being said, having the "wrong" passport serves as a constant reminder of a different reality and, as a result, I feel completely rootless, which voids the point of ethnicity altogether.
• --Rorisc Ethnicity is like religion, you're born in a club. Why fight it? Why change it? Fighting an ethnicity stereotype is another issue. People's brains need stereotypes, it's how most of us function. We are all responsible to change the stereotype to fit the world, rather then changing the world to fit our limiting stereotypes.
  • -- JessicaSideways You aren't born into religion. True, your parents have a religion and they try to influence you into it, but it doesn't ALWAYS work. My mother is a Southern Baptist and I am a Unitarian Universalist Buddhist.
    • --Rorisc In some circles, changing your religion is punishable by death.
• --JessicaSideways I just put tranny. Why? Well, just because that's what I am.
• --ARNO HOLLAND Call the Care police. Can't stand such politicall corectness. I totally agree with Jessica*--

......Ironic that 2 people wanting to "ditch" the program have broad-brushed the USA....as confucius brilliantly said "When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves".

Discussions in CouchSurfing groups

• Quantity vs Quality: Ethnicity, why would anyone care?!
• Brainstorm: Ethnicity shouldn't be a category here

See Also

Gender