Abstract

Although we live in a society that likes to picture itself as antiracial and gender equal, research has shown that subtle and covert forms of discrimination persist and affect the everyday life of women and ethnic minorities. This study investigates everyday discrimination while shopping in clothing stores of different price ranges from an intersectional perspective looking at the crossroads of domination, namely ethnicity and gender. To objectively measure discrimination, we made use of situation testing, in 301 clothing stores in Belgium. With this unique data, net discrimination rates as well as multilevel analysis were executed. Results show that customers with a Maghrebian background receive unfavourable treatment in comparison with their Belgian counterparts when they ask for a specific clothing size. They receive less assistance in the search for the specifc garment. Furthermore, they are greeted or approached less often and are also more frequently stared at and followed by the salesclerk. Gender follows a specific pattern. Firstly, men are significantly more greeted and approached than women within both Maghrebian and Belgian groups. Secondly, men are more stared at and followed by the shop assistant, but this is only significant for the Maghrebian group. Lastly, there is no significant difference in receiving help between men and women within both groups. In general, the intensity and form of ethnic discrimination tends to be subtler and lower in high-end than low-end stores.

How to Cite:

Bourabain, D., (2018) “Kunt u mij helpen?: intersectionele praktijktesten naar alledaagse discriminatie tijdens het winkelen in Vlaanderen en Brussel”, Sociologos 39(2), 126–148. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86973