Why are some Asians OFFENDED when being referred to as "Oriental"?
When and where was the term "ORIENTAL" exclusively an adjective for a type of rug? And who determined that?
I am Asian. I've no problem being referred to as "oriental". Why is the term "Asian" anymore PC than "Oriental"?
CrG: Here's your Webster Dictionary reference:
Relating to or deriving from the language, traditions, or cultures of the peoples of Asian nations in the region designated as "the Orient," or "the East," by Europeans. This term is conspicuously eurocentric as "the East" is constructed as being opposed to a fixed reference point, "the West," or western Europe
Notice the reference to the EAST....NOT WEST. But thx for your 2¢.... still overpriced info from you.
wallawalla: Sorry, you've completely missed the point. Geez!
Asian, obviously, refers to a person whose ancestory line is from Asia. Asia IS A CONTINENT ON EARTH! REALLY! There's no confusion there.
Lisa W: "Oriental" describes an OBJECT? This is EXACTLY my point!
Who told you that? Where does it say that? Prove it!
لينا إتش :
People should be called what they want to be called or they will be offended??
So if you call John Smith, Sir or Mr. Smith.... he can claim you offended him?
Or what if I want to be called "Master"...?
I think I've heard enough. Nobody answering has demonstrated a legitimate reason whe the term "Oriental" offends some Asians. I am Chinese. My ancestory originates in China, which is in Asia. Countries in this area used to be regarded as the Orient or the Far East. There's nothing derogatory or offensive about those FACTS.
My conclusion: Those people that are offended CHOOSE to be offended because Political Correctness empowers ANYONE to be offended if he/she chooses.
One FINAL note: I had a Japanese co-worker that told me she was outraged and offended when someone referred to her as " Oriental"; her response: "I am NOT a rug!"
Posted in oriental carpets
content rss
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
The "’Asian’ is good and ‘Oriental’ is bad" rule probably came from some white liberal … some white liberals think they know what’s best for minority groups better than the minority groups themselves know.
I’m not offended by "Oriental" … in fact, I think "Oriental" is a more accurate description of my ancestry (Korean).
As for "Asian," I don’t mind being called that (I’ve even used it on myself) but it’s actually not as accurate as "Oriental" because "Asian" covers a lot of ground.
After all, people from Iran and India and so on are technically "Asian" but their ethnicity and culture are totally different from Korea’s.
.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Not everyone knows what is meant by the term "oriental". People like to use familiar terms so the Asians use "Asian".
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
whats oriental anyways? it sounds like the chicken noodle brand i always buy
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Not really, they can call me that anytime
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
What do you mean when you say Asian? Someone from Asian. That covers a lot of people you know. Not all of them look the same. I think the term Oriental is used to be a more defining term. Kazakhstan is in Asia and so is India so they are both Asians. Japaneses are Asian as well, but they are Oriental. Its just a way we humans like to classify ourselves.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Because they don’t like it?
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
I guess it’s sort of like when people call blacks "negroes". The only people I’ve heard use those terms are 50+ years old.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Because Oriental describes an object, Asians are people.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
you should call people what they want to be called, if it offends them then DON’T SAY IT!!!!!
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
I don’t know exactly why Asians are offended by it. But the simple fact that they are means I refrain from using it. I have Asian friends and when we discuss race we just refer to nationality like Japanese, Chinese or whatever. Why use names like Oriental? That would be like someone referring to me as Negro.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
dependz on who you call "oriental". we are all a bit oriental but don’t even know it
that reminds me of how some African-Americans are affended when you call them "black", it’s pretty rude
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Never heard of what your observation. For sure I have never heard of Asians being openly offended specially about being called Oriental. Check out the definitions of both and perhaps you can see why you think some Asians are ‘OFFENDED’ when being referred to as "Oriental."
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
I’ve never really used that term too often, but I haven’t heard too many Asians dispute that term.
Oriental refers to Far Eastern.
I was just looking up the term Orient on Wikipedia, and it simply said it has become an outdated term, stemming back to coloial days- Europe referred to their colonies as oriental trade- far eastern trade. I suppose the term Oriental can be categorised along with terms like "negro" or "colored"- in and of themselves not really bad words but have taken on a time period in which these worlds were used insensitively.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
The definition of Asian is self explanatory. However, oriental means western. Look it up in your dictionary.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
I’m not sure. I never hear people call Asians themselves Oriental. My fiance is Chinese American. I never hear anything aside from Asian. Then again, I don’t know why people get offended. I hate being called white, and prefer "European American". Should I be offended by it? No. Some white guy made it legal to call European Americans "White" in early colonial America. I hate the term but why should I be angry? Doesn’t mean people are going to start respecting my wishes. People of every group will be offended by something, whether it’s wrong to use the term or not.
Oriental, I don’t find to be an offensive term, but that doesn’t mean people will not be offended by it. Many people get offended by the term "Negro" although it’s not meant to be offensive. It’s like a white person being offended by being called white or "blanco". "Negro" is Spanish for black. I might ask, "why do they take pride in being black, but hate being called black in Spanish?" But it still offends people. But I can’t speak for Asians or Blacks, and they can speak for me either, you know.
Not everyone is offended by it, some are. As for my fiance, he is not.