Is this Racist?

[Helmholtz Watson]

I was watching the Colbert Report and they brought up a recent issue that occurred. Apparently Forever 21 and Abercrombie and Fitch (both are clothing stores, fyi) got into some trouble when they started selling these products:

Now people are claiming that these products are insensitive to East/South-East Asian people and that the shirts represent East/South-East Asian people in a stereotypical portrait as a "coolie or charlie chan". As for the necklace, people found it offensive that it was called a "Oriental Girl necklace" because some people believe that the term "Oriental" is an outdated term. As a result, Forever 21 has pulled the necklace. So do you think that these items are offensive, or is this a case of people being overly sensitive?

lol, the captcha for this post was "QLeadi inequality,"

here are articles on the two subjects:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/11/forever-21-criticized-for-oriental-girl-necklace/

http://articles.sfgate.com/2002-04-18/news/17540580_1_abercrombie-fitch-t-shirt-wong-brothers-laundry-service

 

[Soxafloppin]

Nope.

Not even slightly.

People LOVE to be the victim, and will ***** and moan about anything. I'm not sure why though, makes them look a bit pathetic.

 

[Something Amyss]

Nope.

Not even slightly.

People LOVE to be the victim, and will ***** and moan about anything. I'm not sure why though, makes them look a bit pathetic.

Probably a similar reason to why people make sweeping generalisations about others' motives.

 

[RagTagBand]

The necklace? No, looks like a geisha. The Buddha shirt? Don't think that's racist either, "Buddha" isn't a race and neither is Buddhism.

The two bottom shirts, however, yes they look pretty racist. The headgear being the biggest offender.

 

[Furioso]

The bottom ones with the stereotypical Asian occupations and headgear sure are, also Buddha wasn't fat, he starved himself while searching for enlightenment, but the image of him being fat will probably never change

Edit: Apparently the fat Buddha is a different person than the first Buddha, kudos to that guy for attaining enlightenment while keeping a... robust figure

 

[RyanRohypnol]

I think the answer here is as follows, people are dicks.

 

[Puddleknock]

I'm of south east asian descent and I couldn't care less about these, some people will make a fuss over anything.

Though I'd in part agree that oriental is an outdated term (as well as just a dumb term anyway), its not offensive. A little ignorant perhaps but not offensive.

 

[Humza Ahmad]

The necklace isn't really racist, alone its fine but, the name caught fire though. The Buddha shirt isn't racist per say but, offensive to those who practice Buddhism. The other two shirts are racist no doubt.

 

[staika]

While I don't really see any of them as racist you could make a case on the two shirts at the bottom being racist.

 

[144_v1legacy]

The necklace isn't really racist, alone its fine but, the name caught fire though. The Buddha shirt isn't racist per say but, offensive to those who practice Buddhism. The other two shirts are racist no doubt.

Correct. Especially in a not-that-niche store like Forever 21, it's irresponsible.

 

[ShakyFt Slasher]

I don't think the necklace is at all racist and I don't see the problem with the term oriental. However, the shirts are quite racist.

 

[DarthFennec]

... wow lol. No, that's not racist or even insensitive. I could never grasp the whole `political correctness' bullshit this kind of criticism comes from, besides the fact that people just love to be offended by things for some reason.

 

[Crenelate]

I thought the necklace was a minimalist wonder woman at first glance. And I'm not so sure about the shirts. I'm more offended by the fact that they're trying to be humorous and failing. If it is racist is very mild - hardly the KKK.

 

[144_v1legacy]

A lot of people here seem to confuse racism with stereotyping or having an open mind.

Context is what matters here. For certain stores, selling shirts that emphasize stereotypes, even if it's meant ironically (which I imagine it is) and therefore not meant to be offensive, it paints a picture of ignorance in the eyes of others. Wearing such a shirt may or not be racist depending on your reasons for wearing it, and whether or not it appears racist depends on how it's taken by those who see it. If it's sold in a store that sells funny shirts, that's fine. But it's dangerous in a shop that claims to be a fashion store, as the shirt would imply that negative stereotyping is fashionable.

And that's why removing the items was the correct decision (or at least changing the name of the necklace).

 

[Scarim Coral]

Mostly no. The necklace is fine even if it name oriental girl (i don't see the problem with that word), the shirts maybe. Buddha Bash sound like you are bashing those who pratice Buddhism and the slogan under the Wong Brother "Two Wongs can make it white" does sound abit racist.

Regardless at the end of the day it's only deem racist if you keep calling it racist.

 

[brunothepig]

Probably a little, although clearly not motivated by hatred so it's hardly a problem. More importantly, who the fuck cares? It's been a while since I posted this video actually...

 

[Soxafloppin]

Nope.

Not even slightly.

People LOVE to be the victim, and will ***** and moan about anything. I'm not sure why though, makes them look a bit pathetic.

Probably a similar reason to why people make sweeping generalisations about others' motives.

Yea, just like that.

hey, wait a second...

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

Probably a little, although clearly not motivated by hatred so it's hardly a problem. More importantly, who the fuck cares? It's been a while since I posted this video actually...

Thank you for that, now i have something to refer to whenever someone feels "offended" by some arbitrary bullshit

OT: Personally i feel like those shirts are made more as jokes rather than something to be taken as a serious representation of asian people or buddhists. But personally i don't see why anyone would wear either of those shirts or the necklace so i really don't see why anyone would be offended by this, apart from maybe being offended by the fact that such tasteless shirts are allowed to be sold and marketed freely, but now we're back to personal opinion again.

 

[mcnally86]

Oriental girl is a quick change in labeling and the only thing I agree with. As for the other shirts let people buy them, let stores sell them. If the item is really offense it will hurt the company by hurting sales. If you are offended and see someone wearing it tell them they are a dick.

 

[intheweeds]

Probably a little, although clearly not motivated by hatred so it's hardly a problem. More importantly, who the fuck cares? It's been a while since I posted this video actually...

"although clearly not motivated by hatred so it's hardly a problem"

I see, so anything nasty I do to others is to be judged by my motivations regardless of who I hurt. Good to know, let me just go kill my kids to 'save' them.
/sarcasm

I'm so sick of that goddamn video clip. Listen, straight young white guys, can you not see how you don't understand? Since when has anyone persecuted you in the same way? When you know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of racism, or any -ism, you can start talking about what is and isn't offensive. Sure you can be a part of the discussion and you should be, but you can't tell other races what is and isn't offensive as a definitive fact. Period. It is not up to you.

Its like punching someone in the face and then telling them it didn't hurt. You didn't just get punched in the face, how in the hell would you know? Or maybe you think it's okay as long as your motivation was suitable?

Please watch the video by MovieBob on this very site called 'Correctitude'. You obviously do not understand what 'politically correct' even means.

OT: Everyone else in this thread I pretty much agree with, the necklace is not IMO racist, it's just an image. The Buddha shirt is pushing it in my opinion, but on it's own, whatever. The bottom two shirts though? What the hell were they thinking? Cartoons stopped using that imagery decades ago, what the hell is wrong with the designers first of all, but then you know these designs had to go through tons of other people to be printed. What kind of culture do they have over at Abercrombie and Fitch anyway?

Edit: its just ridiculous that I have to edit this for clarity. I bolded the added part.

My post means this and only this: You cannot tell another group what will and/or should offend them if you are not in that group. Period. Blacks are not free of homophobia just because they know what it is like to be persecuted for something they cannot control. Nor are gays free of racism for the same reason. That is just two examples. You cannot relate to the a group you are not a part of and therefore cannot speak to what will or should offend them. Everyone in this world has a human duty to not abuse their right to free speech just to say/do something offensive when they could easily have avoided it.

I find it hilarious that most of the responses to a post that basically says 'no one can speak to what offends groups they don't belong to' are along the lines of 'hey you don't understand what offends me'.