Is this offensive or not? South Island girl

I think the term has been misheard as I'm from New Zealand and nobody would say 'look like a South Islander'. It wouldn't mean anything sensible.

I agree that it was probably meant to mean 'South Seas Islander' which is a pretty outdated term but I can imagine someone in their 70s using it. People say 'Pacific Islands' these days.

A little background on the term 'islanders' as understood in New Zealand.

It used to be more common here to say 'Islanders' as a short form of 'Pacific Islanders', meaning 'islands in the Pacific other than New Zealand.' New Zealand Europeans were not regarded as Pacific Islanders but Maori could sometimes be lumped in with the term, so it does have colonialist overtones, particularly 'Islanders'. It's not as bad as 'natives' but it's heading in that direction.

Today you'd be less likely to casually lump all people who are from Pacific islands together in one undifferentiated mass, as the islands all have very different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. There's a world of difference between a Tongan and a New Caledonian and a Fijian, and a New Zealander for that matter.

At any rate, I do think there's something valuely diminishing in associating hair that needs to be carefully combed out with being 'Islander' hair. I'm sure it's not meant maliciously at all but it is lazy stereotyping.

If you are judging a certain group of people by a characteristic negatively then it is prejudice, if the group are grouped due to location then that prejudice is racist. Wild women of borneo is both sexist and racist, its insulting on both the fact women are expected to be well groomed and if they are not they are like these women from this place.

The one in the op isn't clear cut because if over a certain age it could be a comment towards a reputation for being incredibly beautiful and taking care of themselves and spending time looking after their hair.

We in our seventies are a mixed bunch. I learned a lot (after an all white childhood in Scotland) from working with people from a variety of backgrounds. There are words from my young days I’d never utter, as I’ve learnt how offensive they are. Lots of my generation haven’t had my experiences and may well use some expressions without realising they might offend someone.

A bit like ageism perhaps?

@CoffeeCantata the use of the term 'racism' is interesting.
It does actually cover discrimination or disadvantage to any ethnic or cultural group based on geography, skin colour or birth etc where there is an imbalance of power.

Since 'race' itself is not a real thing in humans, 'racism' isn't only about 'race', if you see what I mean?

Paul Gilroy puts it better. Google him.

To be honest I’d have to google exactly where this was and then check the hair. I don’t think it’s racist per se though. More a generalisation comment if person from a certain era.

First place I thought of was New Zealand.

The use of the word 'racist' to talk about what is actually discrimination on other grounds (eg anti-English feeling in Wales or Scotland) is very irritating but I can't think of a more precise term. Can anyone else? It annoys me when race isn't the issue at all, but there is a kind of geographical stereotyping/discrimination going on.

(And please don't anyone say that the Celts are a different race to the English! No, they're not - 'Celtic' is now best understood as a linguistic differentiation - maybe cultural to some extent - and anyway, we're all such a mixture on these islands it's almost meaningless. But some not-too-well-meaning people have a vested interest in claiming it's about race.)

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

When I was young the word uppity referred to a girl/young woman who was cheeky and getting a bit above herself. It was more sexist than anything.

Blimey I use the wild woman of Borneo on myself when I’ve been outside. Never considered it racist. And is it? Borneo is a country not a race? Perhaps I need to change my expression to the wild woman of Essex.

A film about "wild" tribes on a tropical island has no racial connotations? Sure, Jan.

It must be a lot more tedious when people, unintentionally or otherwise - you can't tell - commit racist slurs and micro-aggressions against you.

Because it implies that natural South Sea Island hair is messy, unkempt, or uncared for.

https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/pacific-women-are-taking-back-their-hair/100587532

South Pacific has been on TV many times. It actually is very anti racist (listen to You have to be taught) and the island girls are truly beautiful. If the person saying this was over a certain age this was a compliment.

You have to take offence you can't give it

why is uppity and thug rude anyway?! They are new ones on me!

Sorry, OP - Pedants' Corner calling!

Nothing is 'offensive' in itself. It's a totally subjective concept, so you can answer your question yourself. Is it offensive to you? Only you know that!

Once you achieve your seventies, you don’t care. 👵

As it seems that more and more previously innocuous words/phrases have been added to the list of things that might offend somebody, it's probably wise to say absolutely nothing, at all, ever.

I’m seriously saying…no never mind. No point wasting time explaining.

Yes it is alluding to race. As an old fashioned term I'm sure it wasn't meant in a racist manner but defo isn't P.C.

Are you seriously saying people who aren't racist are 'woke'. Wow, just wow 😳🤡🤦🏻‍♀️

How is saying she has knotty hair a compliment?

Oh my stalker troll is back again. Get a life will ya. Assuming you know you’re born that is. Incidentally the camping trip was great, the next one will be and we’re already looking at rings since you asked.

@BluebellsareBlue that'll learn you is a perfectly acceptable phrase/dialect term.

It’s fun to watch woke eating itself.