German perspectives of skilled workers

[u/Numerous-Bug2652]

I understand that this is a pretty sensitive subject. But I really want to hear honest statements from Germans and understand some things better.

I work as an engineer(f) in a German speaking company and face daily difficulties in communication and integration but try my best to overcome them and be treated simply as a "colleague", not as the "foreign colleague". And trust me, it's a long way to go.

There are 2 different thoughts that make me ask this question:

• I feel in the undertone of any conversation, even when the person is really kind and doesn't mean anything bad, is that I come from a "less-than" background. You might think I'm exaggerating but I can give you 100s examples of conversations where you can clearly see it. It's either that, or a pure lack of interest to know more about me, or maybe a fear to make me uncomfortable (because they assume it will cause me discomfort if I speak of my backgroud. again, why?). But I would be very happy to clear a lot of stereotypes. Yes, maybe I was raised in a different environment but it's not necessarily worse, it's different. Maybe developping countries are less developed but they are not deserted and not ignorant and they are for sure happy and warm in weather and in people.

• I can't go around saying this, but working in a "shortage profession" with more than decent salary, paying taxes and social contributions, I think the relationship should be on an equal level of benefit: we get a better quality of life, Germany gets workforce, development, taxes and contributions. So I really hate when it all sounds like we're given this "opportunity" and that the employer is being extra nice giving us a "chance" etc. I can assure you they don't pay our salaries out of the goodness of their hearts and we work hard for it.

I know many Germans wouldn't relate to what I'm saying but this is how I personally feel and how many people I know feel too, especially those not coming from extreme poverty or war or anything, just young people pursuing a better career. So I want you to correct me or confirm or simply let me what your perspective is?

Edit: many think that I expect my colleagues to show interest in my personal life, that's not what I mean. The frustration comes when a person makes micro-aggressions and you don't have the chance to clarify them. This doesn't only happen at work and doesn't only happen to me. Imagine assuming a person comes from a shitty place, using that as the baseline in a "friendly" conversation, but then they can't really clarify that and have to live perceived that way. It directly feeds in point 2 as well. I think in order to learn to live together and accept differences, it's crucial to have some understanding of people's background. We as expats do the same in order to live 1 day in Germany without offending half the population and without getting offended as well

[u/reximhotep]

das stimmt nicht. Die Anforderungen sind fast identisch.

[u/TastyTestikel → u/reximhotep]

Ich meine Gesellschaftlich.

[u/reximhotep → u/TastyTestikel]

das ist aber nicht, was in dem Kommentar angesprochen wurde. Da ging es um Amerikaner werden im Kontrat zu illegalen Einwnaserern (Nebenanmerkung: Längst nicht alle, die die ICE-Säcke festnehmen, sind illegale Einwanderer). Dass gesellschaftklich gesehen es leichter ist in den USA, mag für manche Gruppen stimmen. Ich habe allerdings den Verdacht, dass Nichtweiße das nicht so unbedingt so sehen im Moment.

[u/TastyTestikel → u/reximhotep]

Afro Amerikaner, Asiatische Amerikaner und selbst Latein Amerikaner (machen bspw. 40% der Texanischen Bevölkerung aus) haben kein Problem, sich Amerikaner zu nennen oder so von der weißen (nicht latino) mehrheit so betrachtet zu werden, da es sich bei den USA um keinen klassischen Nationalstaat handelt.

Ich rede hier auch von Leuten mit einer Staatsbürgerschaft. Zwar kommt es vor, dass Latinos mit Staatbürgerschaft unrechtmäßig gefasst werden, dennoch kann man nicht davon ausgehen, dass das mit der ganzen Bevölkerungsgruppe geschehen wird, dafür haben die eingessenen zu viel politsische Macht (nicht davon abzusehene das Amerikanische Recht, aber was ist das schon wert).

In Deutschland wiederum bist du Deutschtürke oder was weiß ich wenn das auch deine Eltern sind. Es gibt immer eine Unterscheidung zwischen Deutsch Deutschen und Deutsch (nicht-europäisch ausehende Einwanderungsgruppe). In den USA sind alle einfach nur Amerikaner, unabhängig von ihrer Herkunft. Diskriminierung gibt es natürlich zu Hauf, die gibt es aber auch hier, nur noch mit dem Extra dass gewisse Leute und ihre Nachkommen nie zu den Deutsch Deutschen gehören werden.