Is this offensive?

[panicked]

It's an odd question to ask outright, but I wouldn't be offended in the least.

[nessness]

I would be offended.

[Deleted]

I think it's an odd question to ask but here it's pretty standard. I also see why you were offended.

The town closest to me with the "run in quick" store has a large population of low socioeconomic status people (of all races, nationalities so I'm not stereotyping anyone specifically. I promise). There's so much confusion about WIC and how the transaction works exactly that the clerks now just ask outright at the start, so they can handle it correctly the first time rather than battle it at the end.

I've also been asked that at the "nice" grocery store too in a "cash or check" sort of way.

Then again, I'm a straight up white girl, so I know I inherently take less offense to this than I should maybe??

[Deleted]

I think yes, it's offensive to make that assumption and ask. It's probably the kind of thing you should wait for someone to volunteer like being pregnant.

[pooh8402]

I would be offended. A cashier shouldn't make assumptions.

[undecidedowl]

Hm. I could see it either way. If half of the formula only transactions she completes are WIC, then she might have been just making sure it was done right. But I could also see how she could have been totally stereotyping. I'd give her the benefit of the doubt.

ETA: I also agree with others that it would be in better taste to not ask.

[mlt]

Yes I would be offended. Not that she's confusing me for someone on WIC, but because she apparently thought it was okay to ask at all. Fuck her. Imagine if you were using WIC. It sounds like she was trying to shame you/WIC users.

[panicked]

Jul 5, 2015 19:42:13 GMT -5 @domerjen said:

Jul 5, 2015 19:39:10 GMT -5 panicked said:

It's an odd question to ask outright, but I wouldn't be offended in the least.

Really? A black woman was assumed to be poor and it's not offensive?

Yes, you were stereotyped.  Unfortunately, I don't think it was b/c of a bathing suit.

ETA: I hope it's obvious from what I said that I'm offended for you.

I'm on mobile and can't see any sigs/avatars. I had no idea what race the OP is.

[charlotteandwilbur]

Yeah this is bad. Talk to the manager bad IMO.

[sjh722]

Yes, I think that's offensive. I'm sorry that happened to you.

[redheadk]

Pretty damn offensive.

There was zero reason for her to bring it up, even if it's a store that sees a high number of customers that use WIC.

[whitemerlot]

Offensive.

[yellowbrkrd]

Hell yes that's offensive. I would probably report it to the manager.

[Deleted]

Jul 5, 2015 19:52:55 GMT -5 @this said:

I can't stop thinking about this. I'm sorry that happened to you.

Thank you for saying this. The more I think about this the more it bothers me. I guess I've never read into being asked too much because it happens all the time in my area. I honestly think it has to do with English language confusion in 99% of cases here and the clerk just wants to get it right so she's attempting to being nice. On the flip side I have seen what happens when someone thinks their groceries got applied to WIC and it didn't. It's not great either. 

I've never been straight up asked "That'll be WIC right?" though. More, "Will that be cash, check, Mastercard, WIC, Visa?" I've also been asked "Any coupons, store cards or other payment cards to apply today?" Which doesn't make it better either but it does, sound "better." 

[swank]

Yes, I'd be pissed and I am for you.

[MNH2013]

Offensive. I've been asked similar to your last statement of any XX type of payment. Never outright asked for wic.

Eta: oops just saw dairy made that statement not you.

[spk926]

Hindsight is 20/20 but I wish you would've come back with, "Oh, why did you think that?"

Yes I would be offended and would be calling the store manager. Keep your receipt, it might have the cashier's name or lane # on it which will be helpful when talking to the manager.

[winecheery]

Oh yes. Very offensive. I think it's rude to ask that of anyone, but it is about a 1000% worse because the cashier most definitely made her assumptions because you are black.

This makes me want to cry and also stab something. How disgusting.

[sporklemotion]

The way she asked/assumed that was offensive, unless she asks that of everybody who buys formula (which would be odd). However, I know nothing about WIC other than the fact that it designates what the money is for-- you get a certain allocation for formula, for milk, etc. I think, in the old days, you would get actual vouchers for the items, so a WIC transaction would be very different from a cash/check/credit one. If that is still the case, I can see why she would ask before ringing you up. If it's become automated, then there's no reason to ask.
Either way, an innocuous "how will you be paying?" Is a better way to ask.

[aspentosh]

Definitely offensive.

[glinda]

Yes it is and I am mad on your behalf. That is ridiculous.

[glitzy07]

Offensive. Also confusing to me as a former cashier. WIC, at least when I cashiered, was in the form of a paper voucher and the items on it are very specific and needed to be rung separately. Every mother or father who had one definitely knew they needed to present it at the beginning of the transaction. I would have never had a reason to ask that question.

[redwino]

Damn right it's offensive and I'd call the store manager.

[leonard131]

Yep- offensive.

[vanillacourage]

I am sort of surprised by these answers. When people come on MM with budget posts (or at least, when they used to....) if their income was really low and they had kids the common response would be "look into WIC, there's no shame, it's a resource that's there if you need it" blah blah.



I agree that the cashier was not tactful to phrase it as "that will be WIC, right?" but I don't get the responses here of "imagine if you'd actually been using WIC? How mortifying!!!"

[Deleted]

Jul 5, 2015 20:09:25 GMT -5 glitzy07 said:

Offensive. Also confusing to me as a former cashier. WIC, at least when I cashiered, was in the form of a paper voucher and the items on it are very specific and needed to be rung separately. Every mother or father who had one definitely knew they needed to present it at the beginning of the transaction. I would have never had a reason to ask that question.

See where I live it's about a group of recent immigrants who are trying hard as can be but struggle with English. There's still a strong distrust of government for some of them and they don't believe it will actually work or they won't suffer for having it. There's also an embarrassment aspect to it and they don't want to admit they have it and then get harassed for saying so. Some also honestly don't know they're supposed to say they have it/don't know what to do with it esp. since it's all electronic. Sort of the flip side of what we're saying. Also, small town grocery store with old school checkout systems and it's all sorts of confusion and frustration. 

I'm not saying it's right. I'm just saying I can sort of see where the clerks are coming from meaning it in a harmless way "let me know if you have this so I can make life easier" manner but having it come out all wrong. 

I'm also sure OP has every right to take offense to this as well. I highly doubt this is what the clerk meant in her case.

[Deleted]

If this had happened to me I would just shrug it off but if I were a black woman I would be offended definitely. I'm sorry that happened.

[vanillacourage]

Jul 5, 2015 20:20:52 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

Jul 5, 2015 20:15:35 GMT -5 @barefootbarista said:

I don't think there is any shame in using WIC, but I don't think it is okay to assume she is using it. And that is what it sounds like she did.

Especially if it was intentionally or unintentionally due to race. 
Microaggressions are not cool at all. 

To clarify, I was mentally treating the cashier's comment and the responses here as separate things. 

[teatimefor2]

I would be offended. I would like to think she was new to the position, but yeah, if I was the OP I would be offended, especially if that assumption was made based on race. There is no shame in WIC, no shame at all, but the cashier was in the wrong here. I'm sorry, OP.

[bcarp30]

I feel like this is similarly offensive to "are you the nanny?" And not because you look young. I didn't know your race before reading replies but I would be offended either way.

As others stated, there's nothing wrong with the programs that provide services for many but asking outright like that is hurtful. And if I were on WIC and they asked that I would have had my pride hurt. Like if someone is already using them it's probably not something they're super happy about and then to have it assumed would be upsetting. No need to call out that information.