Today I had to run to the bank to deposit a US check that would then be rolled over into investments in Canadian funds. When I walked in, the lady at the greeting/information desk didn’t even look up. I made my way to the teller who soon informed me that this check would be held for 15 days so that it could be verified with the institution in the US. I asked if there was any alternative since I needed to access the funds sooner and 15 days seemed rather unnecessary. Eventually the manager came out and started asking me questions about my student status and seemed unconvinced when I told her I was not a student. When she found out I was a volunteer for the Mennonite Church, she was equally unimpressed. So I took my check back home and formulated a new plan.
I had been wearing shorts and a t-shirt and had my hair pulled back and had a nice “granola” type purse from some other country in the world. I decided I would dress nicely, switching my chacos for leather sandals, my shorts for capris, and my t-shirt for a more attractive shirt. Then I put down my hair, put on a bit of jewelry, made sure my sun-glasses were placed in the trendiest of positions and off I went back to the bank.
It was merely a couple of hours later but the difference was amazing. The lady at the information desk looked up, smiled and called out a greeting even though I hadn’t looked at her first. I had made sure to enter the bank with a sense of entitlement whereas I probably entered with some timidity ealier. I waited in line looking just a bit impatient and indifferent and a young male teller who was on his lunch break, left his break and opened a new till and called me over. When I explained my situation, he said it was absolutely no problem, he would call the US instituation immediately. In a matter of minutes, the check was verified and the funds were in my account. I thanked him profusely on behalf of myself and my financial advisor and set off.
So then, if I, a young white female am treated with this sort of prejudice based on my appearance and perceived wealth status….how are others treated in this institution? Our society here in Winnipeg has huge prejudices when it comes to serving Native Canadians particularly. This was an experiment I wasn’t sure would work. I am rather horrified that it did.
