Racism and Misogyny

[harumi]

What do you do when you're confronted with blatant racial slurs/gestures... by another person of color?

Comments

[sherryillk]

It amazes me how some people still think "Oriental" is an acceptable words to use. I mean, what does it even mean? I'm very horrified whenever I hear it being used towards people, even dismayed when it's used in general, but god, I hate that word. It's almost as bad as "chink", and sometimes I think it's worse because while "chink" is considered universally derogatory, "Oriental" isn't so it lulls ignorant people into thinking it's okay.

But it's definitely something I would put a person in their place for.

[harumi]

There's definitely a generational gap. But I hate, hate, hate it when the onus is on the offended person. How hard it is to stop using the word? And intent/ignorance isn't an excuse. Doesn't make the hurt any less. The only benefit of being ignorant or having good intentions is that you could now change so that it wouldn't happen in the future

But people get so defensive about it, it boggles the mind.

[sherryillk]

EXACTLY! That's why I generally will confront a person for their use of "Oriental," especially if I know they're generally a good person. You simply have to be firm in how much it offends you and why they shouldn't be using such a phrase ever again. Most of them don't realize that it's bad because it's something they've used their entire lives without incident but I definitely think this is one of those things that we have to let people know it's not okay.

If you makes you feel better, I've had pretty good success talking to other people about not using this word. However, "chink" is a whole different story but I find that if people are using that word, then they're probably not going to changer their minds all that easily anyway... It does suck because calling that is so much worse. :(

[celestriad]

ugh. i thought the slanty eyes thing was something i'd left behind in elementary school. but then again, i'd still gotten the babbling and gibberish version of 'chinese' one time when i was working in manufacturing in '07. the lady apologized later, at least (i think the look i gave her was a clue as to how stunned i was to have to deal with something so offensive even as an adult, and it probably helped that she herself was non-white). it really is dumbfounding to think that we still have to deal with this kind of crap at all.

[harumi]

I remember that lady. And I'm wondering if I should talk to the security guard about it after all. Referring to us as "Orientals" is about as offensive as referring to black people as "coloreds" or "negro". Nothing could match the n-word though, and it would be wrong to make that comparison.

[mya_in_ab]

FEMALE circumcison the same as MALE?! What?!? People think that??

[harumi]

I know right? Yeah, how about the fact that sometimes the vagina is completely sewn shut? Or that cutting the clitoris completely off is equivalent to cutting off the head of the penis? Same my ass.

The only comparable thing would be if the procedure was only on removing the clitoral hood, but that's it.

[kleine_teekanne]

Ooookay then. I hate when people use terms like "Oriental". *siiiiigh* And the slanty-eyed gesture--how could she ever have thought that was okay to do? o__O

Even though some time has passed, maybe you could bring it up casually to the security guard? Like perhaps, "Remember about a week or so ago we were talking? I've been thinking over something that was said that bothered me..." Also I thought your comparison of the word "Oriental" to "coloreds" or "negro" was quite apt; maybe explaining it like that might help her understand where you're coming from/why you were offended.

Also, a big ol' WTF to that Facebook group. I am also opposed to infant male circumcision--but comparing it to FGM is NOT the way to get support, holy shit. Have these people never read an article comparing these two practices?! *raeg*

[harumi]

Sometimes I just don't get people. I thought I'd gone passed that part of my life when I got out of middle school, but no...

And I know, right? This is why people who are opposed to routine infant circumcision are held under suspicion by so many feminists. Idiots. There's not even a REASON to compare the two.

[uminohikari]

I was actually told that while Asian is the accepted word in America, in England, Oriental is actually more accepted? I'm not sure where I read that though. :T

[harumi]

It's not really about where it's more accepted, but whether or not the person you're talking to accepts it or not though.