Are we too sensitive to perceived insults to our race/ethnicity?
By prettyruby
@prettyruby (350)
United States
October 16, 2011 4:36pm CST
So, recently a Native American woman sent an open letter to Urban Outfitters stating how she found their labeling of Native American-inspired patterns and products as "Navajo" insulting and offensive. These objects include plastic dreamcatchers, shirts with Native American-inspired print, and even underwear with purported "Navajo" print.
The Navajo Nation is now suing Urban Outfitters. However, they are suing because they own the trademark name "Navajo", not because they are offended (although they might also be not happy about their race being added to the description of a pair of panties).
While I agree that grouping all Native American-related paraphernalia into one ethnicity, such as Navajo, Cherokee, or Aztec, is ignorant and politically incorrect, I honestly think that the woman who wrote the letter was overreacting. I'm ethnically Chinese, and I see random "Asian" things all the time that aren't even remotely accurate. (Don't get me started on "Japanese" characters that are actually traditional Chinese characters. Ugh!) But, I just accept it as mass marketing and leave it be.
What do you think? Do you think businesses should be allowed to market their items with misrepresented ethnic/racial names? Do you get insulted when people group your race/ethnicity into another completely different category?
3 responses
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
17 Oct 11
Unless it's a curse when translated in my language, I guess I'm okay with that. This has never happened to my language before though so I really don't know how I would react. LOL
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
17 Oct 11
Yeah, I'd like to see panties with the word "f*ck" on it though, that would be sexy.
@huilichan8 (1378)
• Singapore
16 Oct 11
I think it depends on whether e company in question has deliberately misrepresented e ethnic name. However, in my multi-racial country, businesses r apparently more mindful of not offending any one particular race and there's no misrepresentation of any kind, s far s I know. I suppose my govt's efforts in promoting racial harmony has paid off. Personally, I'm mindful of not offending e other races in what I say and do, esp since my race is e majority in my county.
No, I won't get insulted. There r times when pp wld say that (or ask if) I'm a Chinese national juz because I'm a Chinese and I 'look' really Chinese. The only times when I feel insulted r when pp think that I'm uneducated or that I don't hv much education juz because I look very Chinese.
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
17 Oct 11
That's very true. I think in this case it could be a deliberate misrepresentation since Urban Outfitters was basically using "Navajo" as a shorter version of "Native American".
That's really interesting that people might think you're uneducated because you look Chinese. In the U.S., it's the exact opposite! People usually think that you must have finished college if not a PhD, MD, or JD!
@huilichan8 (1378)
• Singapore
17 Oct 11
Oh maybe I shld clarify...I don't like to dress up and so I'm usually casually dressed, even on work days (unless e company I work for is very particular abt dress code). That, coupled with my Chinese look, usually gives pp e impression that I'm uneducated. What makes matters worse is that there r A LOT of Chinese nationals in my country and most of them work in places like factories, coffee shops and so forth. Because they r not required to dress up in view of e nature of their work, they r almost always casually dressed. So, I'm easily mistaken to be one of them unless I talk. Oh I just want to emphasise that I hv no intention of insulting Chinese nationals here, esp since I'm a Chinese.
I'm curious abt what u said. Why is it that pp wld usually think that e Chinese in your country r well-educated? Is it because they r immigrants? Thanks and hv a gd wk!
@huilichan8 (1378)
• Singapore
16 Oct 11
I think it depends on whether e company in question has deliberately misrepresented e ethnic name. However, in my multi-racial country, businesses r apparently more mindful of not offending any one particular race and there's no misrepresentation of any kind, s far s I know. I suppose my govt's efforts in promoting racial harmony has paid off. Personally, I'm mindful of not offending e other races in what I say and do, esp since my race is e majority in my county.
No, I won't get insulted. There r times when pp wld say that (or ask if) I'm a Chinese national juz because I'm a Chinese and I 'look' really Chinese. The only times when I feel insulted r when pp think that I'm uneducated or that I don't hv much education juz because I look very Chinese.
