Post by awkwardpenguin on Jul 6, 2015 8:08:03 GMT -5
I'm definitely coming from a place of privilege and also probably just wanting to believe people aren't this stupid about race. It's easy for me as a white woman to say I'd give her the benefit of the doubt, because if it was me I could be sure it wasn't about race. I realize people of color don't have that luxury, and I'm sorry I didn't consider that when I posted.
Post by runblondie26 on Jul 6, 2015 8:16:07 GMT -5
I get asked that question a fair amount at checkout. We have a decent WIC population in our area, and they have a different procedure for ringing that stuff up, so it's not absurd for them to ask. Sure it could be phrased better.
However, even when I'm coming from a work meeting in a suit, I've been asked that question. It seems pretty equal opportunity from what I've experienced, not like they're profiling.
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!!!"
I agree. To go with my previous post, when I get asked, I do feel slightly insulted too. I mean, common I'm wearing heels and pearls! But then I think, so what is the face of WIC supposed to look like? Let me check myself here.
Some cashiers said they asked because I had a lot of WIC eligile items in my order like juice, milk and cheese and they need to be rung up differently. Nope, I just have young kids at home. I mean, thank god, they didn't say it was because I look poor.
Post by cinnamoncox0 on Jul 6, 2015 8:44:57 GMT -5
A few years ago when my girls were about 1.5/2 I was at the supermarket in a definitely middle class area the cashier asked for my WIC checks. I was caught off guard and must've had a funny look on my face because the cashier followed up with "oh I saw the little kids and milk and just assumed it was WIC". It's only happened that one time, and I thought it was definitely odd to say the least. I'm not black so I guess it wasn't offensive, but I certainly thought it bizarre, like plenty of people have small kids and buy milk but aren't on WIC, I'd say the vast majority in that area isn't on WIC, so it was completely out of left field for her to assume WIC based on kids and milk.
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??
It wasn't a "run in quick store". It is a very large, nice, new supermarket.
I get formula from Amazon but DD is having a growth spurt or something and we've run out just before our delivery date. I only needed one can.
The area is very diverse but it is a middle class to affluent area.
Then I'd most definitely be offended. My run in quick store is in a small town with a lot of seasonal immigrants due to a canning factory and a turkey processing plant. I'll be honest, it's diverse but not at all affluent. Sort of the polar opposite of what you describe.
I hope I didn't make you feel bad. I was just explaining why it's my normal. I've also never been asked "That's WIC right?" straight up. It's all looped in with the standard.
The next town over which is very affluent and somewhat diverse, I've never been asked that. But the card readers there scan WIC no problem, where the small store doesn't without some explanation. So in my case I think it's the clerk just trying to be helpful rather than explain.
Offensive. And worth a call to the manager. Even if race weren't a factor (and it's already been covered by PPs how and why it is a factor), the cashier's phrasing was at best naively tactless and alienating for customers-- at best!