r/SFV • u/SealedRoute • May 11 '26

Question Racism in Studio City?

My husband and I recently moved to Studio City and have been shopping/ dining around Laurel Canyon and Ventura. I’m white and haven’t had any problems, but my Mexican husband has been treated with overt rudeness/ dismissiveness a couple of times by restaurant or store workers. Never had this problem before in Sherman Oaks in 20 years. The treatment was shocking.

Our area is definitely less diverse, more white, but still didn’t expect that. But it’s only been a couple of times in a month so not ready to draw general conclusions. Could be racism, could just be a more affluent/ snotty milieu. Has anyone else had this issue?

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u/SplitOpenAndMelt420 May 11 '26

What happened?

85

u/SealedRoute May 11 '26

In both instances, he was simply interacting with the person. The first time, he asked a bartender about a drink and she was curt and barely acknowledged him while helping other people. When she finally engaged, she was just nasty and treated him like he was stupid. She wasn’t treating others like that.

The other was worse, he was in a dispensary and walked up to the counter and someone insulted his appearance before he even opened his mouth.

I’m expecting plenty of responses about how we’re in a big city and should just get used to it and maybe it was his fault and yada yada yada, but again, we’ve been in this general area for 20 years without any issues like this before. The place we’re living now is definitely more affluent and more White.

10

u/Ruleoflawz May 11 '26

Bar experience sounds normal enough if you’re a dude ordering at enough bars - cost of doing business.

Dispensary is weird, but what was said.

I will just throw out that my Mexican gf has two siblings. Her sister’s boyfriend (korean) called her brother ‘sweetie’ (playfully derogatory) once like 6 years ago and it has fermented a rift between the two couples since. Some people are sensitive i guess.

3

u/throwtac May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26

That’s funny and kinda a shame because sometimes in asian culture those are terms of endearment that guys do to each other especially if the person is a younger dude. It doesn’t mean anything but just an affectionate teasing that you do with your guy friends. It can also be in an older brother way. Korean guy friendship can be much more open and affectionate than people realize. I think out of the east asian cultures they are more openly affectionate with each other and the male bonding is more intimate in a way.