Why do Iranians think we’re better than them?

Ask An Iranian

To Iranians, ze Germans are foreign, but ze Chinese… well, they're just Chinese! It’s the same with many other nationalities and ethnicities for Iranians in Iran — some are foreign and some are just themselves. This type of categorisation tacitly exists and is just… discriminatory. Yes, it’s kinda racism, but the good kind, right! Iranians will hold certain peoples in high esteem and although they won’t make their prejudices institutional, they will bestow privilege to those deemed foreign. Enraged? Don’t be! Allow us to explain how it is that Iranians can be racist, kinda.

Throughout this episode, we also provide anecdotes from various foreign friends of the show. They were kind enough to share their stories of how Iranians have judged them as foreigners. These stories were provided by a Brazilian, a Brit, a Syrian, and an Afghanistani. Most of their experiences were positive, but no prizes for guessing which of them experienced the opposite.

So, go here if wanna read more about why Iranian love foreigners, but only certain foreigners?

Questions we also get answers to in this episode

• Are Iranians racist?
• Are Iranians "kinda" racist?
• How exactly do Iranians determine who is foreign?
• How are people from Afghanistan treated by Iranians?
• Is using the word "Afghan" for people from Afghanistan racist or otherwise inappropriate?
• Why are Iranians racist or insulting towards people from Afghanistan?
• What do Iranians think of Brazilians?
• How do I date an Iranian?
• What do Iranians think of Arabs?
• Will I be overcharged in Iran?
• What do Iranians think of the British?

Image credit: Marion Doss, via Flickr - "Conference of the 'Big Three' at Yalta makes final plans for the defeat of Germany. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Premier Josef Stalin." February 1945. Image edited by Ask An Iranian, 2021.

Music credit: “Mahvash, Parivash”, Jalal Hemmati

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