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Taking the downvotes.... It seems like a micro-agression (not sure what word to use) that Safeway, Lucky's, Vons, etc are "grocery stores" but 99 Ranch, K-Mart

by nox101 2y ago

Taking the downvotes.... It seems like a micro-agression (not sure what word to use) that Safeway, Lucky's, Vons, etc are "grocery stores" but 99 Ranch, K-Mart, Pacific Supermarket are "Asian Grocery stores". Effectively, you're "normal" if you go to a "grocery store" but you're abnormal if you go to an "asian grocery store". I think they should rename/reclassify the "mostly based on European culture groceries stores" as something a little less "this is the norm". This is especially true in majority Asian areas since going to Safeway, Lucky's, Vons, etc is probably not the norm. https://bestneighborhood.org/race-in-san-francisco-ca/ https://bestneighborhood.org/race-in-san-francisco-ca/ And, even though I know there will be lots of downvotes, it sure would be nice to hear some argument for why this doesn't matter. It's effectively telling people they're foreigners. If you weren't a foreigner you'd go to the "grocery store" but because you're not really part of here you go to an "asian grocery store". It's pretty clear, at least to me, the one of those is considered the "norm" and other the exception and it follows there's a judgement there.

hatthew 2y ago
American food is most similar to european food, but is still distinct. "Default" grocery stores in america are focused on american food, not european food. I don't think it's problematic that american food is considered the norm.
- nox101 2y ago
  You just spit on every American that doesn't eat that food. Wow! "American food" is what Americans eat. There are plenty of American's that don't eat the food from "Default grocery stores". You comment can be summed up as "if you don't eat the same foods as from "default" grocery stores you're not really American"
  - hatthew 2y ago
    "American food" is in this context is a specific cuisine that includes things like cold cereal, eggs, bacon, sandwiches, hamburgers, chicken wings, apple pie, and much more. Of course americans can still eat other food, but that doesn't make other food American food, it's only food eaten in america. If an italian eats sushi, does that make sushi Italian food? Of course not. These classic American foods tended to be the most commonly eaten things in years past, so American grocery stores tended to carry groceries for those dishes. They were the most common type of grocery store by a massive margin, and they are the type of grocery store that sells the cuisine of the country in which they reside, so they are just called "grocery stores". In italy, do italians call the store that sells tomato sauce and spaghetti an Italian grocery store? Of course not, it's just The Grocery Store. If alice thinks bob is less american for shopping at an asian grocery store, the problem lies with alice, not with the society that makes a distinction between "default" and asian grocery stores.
    - nox101 2y ago
      The whole issue is about defining "default". In the 1950s maybe the food that Safeway/Luckys/Vons carried was "default". It's arguably not in 2024, at least not in 40-50% of LA/OC and SF Bay Area At some point you have to recognize that society and the general makeup of the population has changed and re-word things. We went from policeman to police officer to acknowledge that it's not just men who are police. Same with Stewardess vs Flight Attendant. We should be doing the same here and not define some "default" that excludes so much of the population.
ProfessorLayton 2y ago
I'm not sure this is the case? A few things to consider: - Everyone I know of any cultural background says they're going to the "grocery store" by default, even if they're going to H Mart or whatever. If they're specific about going to a Mexican/Asian/etc store, it's because they're looking for stuff not easily found elsewhere. - Many are very proud of their culture's cuisine, and are more than happy to make a distinction. They don't feel "othered" for it. - Big box stores absolutely tailor their stock to the demographics around them. A Safeway or a Costco in the Bay Area isn't the same as one Eugene, OR. What's considered "normal" in one area is not the same as another.
- nox101 2y ago
  Not my experience. Everyone I know is not happy to be "othered". Oh, you're not really American. You've got slanted eyes. Oh, you're not really American, you eat rice instead of bread. Oh, you're not really American. You shop at those "Asian" groceries stores instead of those "American" groceries stores. how is this any different from stuff like? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crAv5ttax2I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crAv5ttax2I
  - ProfessorLayton 2y ago
    What you're describing is just xenophobia, and that certainly a problem with some people, but not everyone, especially not in areas that have high enough demand for specialized stores. Making distinction of different cuisines is not that. "American grocery stores" also cater to the demographics around them. For example, Safeways in the Bay Area carry all the staples necessary to make Mexican food despite being an "American" grocery store.

by nox101 2y ago

hatthew 2y ago

American food is most similar to european food, but is still distinct. "Default" grocery stores in america are focused on american food, not european food. I don't think it's problematic that american food is considered the norm.

nox101 2y ago
You just spit on every American that doesn't eat that food. Wow! "American food" is what Americans eat. There are plenty of American's that don't eat the food from "Default grocery stores". You comment can be summed up as "if you don't eat the same foods as from "default" grocery stores you're not really American"
- hatthew 2y ago
  "American food" is in this context is a specific cuisine that includes things like cold cereal, eggs, bacon, sandwiches, hamburgers, chicken wings, apple pie, and much more. Of course americans can still eat other food, but that doesn't make other food American food, it's only food eaten in america. If an italian eats sushi, does that make sushi Italian food? Of course not. These classic American foods tended to be the most commonly eaten things in years past, so American grocery stores tended to carry groceries for those dishes. They were the most common type of grocery store by a massive margin, and they are the type of grocery store that sells the cuisine of the country in which they reside, so they are just called "grocery stores". In italy, do italians call the store that sells tomato sauce and spaghetti an Italian grocery store? Of course not, it's just The Grocery Store. If alice thinks bob is less american for shopping at an asian grocery store, the problem lies with alice, not with the society that makes a distinction between "default" and asian grocery stores.
  - nox101 2y ago
    The whole issue is about defining "default". In the 1950s maybe the food that Safeway/Luckys/Vons carried was "default". It's arguably not in 2024, at least not in 40-50% of LA/OC and SF Bay Area At some point you have to recognize that society and the general makeup of the population has changed and re-word things. We went from policeman to police officer to acknowledge that it's not just men who are police. Same with Stewardess vs Flight Attendant. We should be doing the same here and not define some "default" that excludes so much of the population.

ProfessorLayton 2y ago

I'm not sure this is the case? A few things to consider: - Everyone I know of any cultural background says they're going to the "grocery store" by default, even if they're going to H Mart or whatever. If they're specific about going to a Mexican/Asian/etc store, it's because they're looking for stuff not easily found elsewhere. - Many are very proud of their culture's cuisine, and are more than happy to make a distinction. They don't feel "othered" for it. - Big box stores absolutely tailor their stock to the demographics around them. A Safeway or a Costco in the Bay Area isn't the same as one Eugene, OR. What's considered "normal" in one area is not the same as another.

nox101 2y ago
Not my experience. Everyone I know is not happy to be "othered". Oh, you're not really American. You've got slanted eyes. Oh, you're not really American, you eat rice instead of bread. Oh, you're not really American. You shop at those "Asian" groceries stores instead of those "American" groceries stores. how is this any different from stuff like? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crAv5ttax2I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crAv5ttax2I
- ProfessorLayton 2y ago
  What you're describing is just xenophobia, and that certainly a problem with some people, but not everyone, especially not in areas that have high enough demand for specialized stores. Making distinction of different cuisines is not that. "American grocery stores" also cater to the demographics around them. For example, Safeways in the Bay Area carry all the staples necessary to make Mexican food despite being an "American" grocery store.