is this term offensive?

[georgeharrison]

The term "oriental" describing someone who is of an Asian heritage? I was just thinking this morning that my mom always referred to Asian folks as Oriental. My household growing up was most certainly not PC. My mom is from the south and some of the stuff I have heard her family say makes me . I can't say that I've heard anyone else really say oriental, though.

I don't usually refer to people by their ethnicity, but I just thought I'd ask for my own FYI.

[jennlin]

oriental is technically not PC...so if i hear it, i'll correct someone, telling them it's not what you're supposed to say anymore, but it doesn't offend me, unless you're using it TO offend me.

[jennlin]

p.s. the correct term is asian.

[sarack]

oriental is totally rude.. my dad used to use it too..

[jennlin]

oh and my parents still use "oriental"...it's what they were taught way back when...i've told them to say "asian" instead, but they always forget and/or say it's too hard to say.

[madDawg228]

May 24, 2012 11:03:19 GMT -5 sarack said:

oriental is totally rude.. my dad used to use it too..

This. But my dad still says it. He last used the term when describing some of my friends who attended my wedding.

[georgeharrison]

Well, good to know. Also good to know that my mom isn't the only one who still uses it.

[Deleted]

I was always told that "things" could be oriental, but not people. Like an oriental rug. People are Asian, for a broad term, or Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc.

[amandasw]

I will say, H's mom uses the term oriental, lol - she's Korean. H doesn't like it, so I'm guessing she just doesn't know the negative connotations it has in the US, but it's interesting to think about (that the reason we don't like the word has more to do with stuff in the US than stuff in Asia).

Also food for thought, 'oriental rugs' usually refers to rugs from Iran - so historically 'the orient' also includes the middle east.

[Deleted]

It's nowadays considered rude, and yes, the general rule is "Oriental is for things, Asian is for people (or living creatures)." However, it was the perfectly acceptable term to use for older generations like many of our parents/grandparents.

[Deleted]

May 24, 2012 11:00:51 GMT -5 jennlin said:

oriental is technically not PC...so if i hear it, i'll correct someone, telling them it's not what you're supposed to say anymore, but it doesn't offend me, unless you're using it TO offend me.

this.

However if you're talking about a rug (not of the pubic variety) then it's cool.

[niq]

I think Oriental was considered at least kinda PC until the 70s or 80s, the same way "Negro" and "colored" or even "black" used to be PC.

FWIW I still say "black" but only as an adjective and only in certain situations, to call someone "a black" is no bueno, the same way "Jew" is worse than "Jewish".

[jennlin]

May 24, 2012 13:34:48 GMT -5 niq said:

I think Oriental was considered at least kinda PC until the 70s or 80s, the same way "Negro" and "colored" or even "black" used to be PC.

FWIW I still say "black" but only as an adjective and only in certain situations, to call someone "a black" is no bueno, the same way "Jew" is worse than "Jewish".

in one of my american history classes, i learned that black (black-american) is different than african-american...and most blacks prefer to be called black versus african-american, because they aren't from africa, but have had a home in the US for hundreds of years......but i still feel weird saying it.

[MrsH2010]

May 24, 2012 12:15:50 GMT -5 @ksta said:

It's nowadays considered rude, and yes, the general rule is "Oriental is for things, Asian is for people (or living creatures)." However, it was the perfectly acceptable term to use for older generations like many of our parents/grandparents.

So if that is true is it rude to say "it is in the oriental aisle" when telling someone where to find something at the grocery store?

[libbride]

My parents also use the term "oriental" and I correct them to "asian" (or Japanese, Korean, etc. if possible)

It would be interesting to know which terms we use today will be non-PC in the future.

[jennlin]

May 24, 2012 15:07:09 GMT -5 @jennuinne said:

Yes. My parents use it all the time and we always correct them. They can't figure it out.

Niq: black is not offensive, unless you are using it an offensive way. "African-American" is a PC term that is not used that much anymore. Like pp, some black people actually find that offensive, or at least inaccurate, because they are not African. I am white, not European-American.

so jennuinne, you're 100% positive i wouldn't get beat up if i used the word black? i always feel so awkward...example: "who is joe?" "oh, joe's the black guy that sits over there."

[emyinpink]

I totally find it rude/offensive. Luckily no one in my life uses it
It also bothers me when people make stupid comments. Like, oh, you're going to Japan? You should talk to blahblah, she's Asian! (when she's Taiwanese).

[jennlin]

May 24, 2012 15:25:15 GMT -5 @emyinpink said:

I totally find it rude/offensive. Luckily no one in my life uses it
It also bothers me when people make stupid comments. Like, oh, you're going to Japan? You should talk to blahblah, she's Asian! (when she's Taiwanese).

yah, i don't get it much anymore, but people used to randomly ask me if i spoke ______ (japanese, vietnamese, any other asian language). no. i don't.

[jennlin]

May 24, 2012 17:40:25 GMT -5 @jennuinne said:

May 24, 2012 15:10:39 GMT -5 jennlin said:

so jennuinne, you're 100% positive i wouldn't get beat up if i used the word black? i always feel so awkward...example: "who is joe?" "oh, joe's the black guy that sits over there."

Pretty sure. Although, I understand being nervous about it. I personally always try to describe people w/o referring to race. So, I'd say "Joe's the guy that sits between John and Suzy" or something like that. Also, I think if you say it tentatively, like you thing its wrong, it sounds wrong. If you say it accusatory, it sounds negative. If you just say it like, the guy w/ brown hair, it's fine. I'll ask DH his thoughts...

totally educational. love this board.