The Chilean People 43in Chile. An African-American
woman in Chile on a study
abroad programme remarked
that she was stared at, but in
general, treated very nicely.
Recently, Asians have begun
to arrive in Chile. Indians and
Pakistanis tend to settle in
and around Iquique. Koreans,
Taiwanese and other Asians
have immigrated to Chile in
more considerable numbers.
Unlike other groups, due to
their distinctive physical
characteristics and radically
different culture, Asians have
not assimilated as easily. They
are readily recognised as being
different and have remained
on the margins of mainstream
society. With their arrival, Chileans have had to begin to learn
how to accept those who ‘do not look like them’. Chileans
tend to group all Asians together, ignoring the differences
between them. It is not uncommon to hear all Asians,
including the large number of Korean Chileans, referred to
as chinos (Chinese).
Discrimination
Most Chileans claim they are not racist, yet that assertion
is sometimes not quite true. Among groups they have no
direct contact with, Chileans seem to believe in stereotypes,
most likely imported from other cultures. They also have
no problem making sweeping generalisations based on one
personal experience.
Several years ago a Korean woman was expelled from
a health club because, according to the management and
other members, she smelled bad, the result of her diet
of Korean food. The woman sued the health club, citing
discrimination, and won the case. The first racial conflict the
Exiliados and
Retornados
Another sector of Chilean
society worth mentioning is
the retornados, exiles during
the Pinochet regime who have
since returned to Chile. This
group has experienced a number
of unique problems such as
reintegration into a ‘foreign’
culture and society. Some exiles
who harboured old ideas were
confronted with a new and un-
familiar Chile, while others had
grown accustomed to the culture
of their host country. Significant
numbers went to Sweden, East
Germany, Austria, the United
States, Australia, Argentina and
other countries. The children and
foreign spouses of exiles also
have problems living in a country
they have never known and with
which they feel no close bond.