Racist comment or statement of fact?

[Spinxsta]

7 year old DS said that a TA at his school stated "the Chinese eat dogs". He said they were talking about what people in other countries eat.

I feel there should be some context behind a statement that stereotypes people. Maybe "in the past, some of the poorer people in china ate dogs as they were starving" or something.

Another school mum said the statement didn't sit right but she didn't see it as racist.

We spoke to DS about how people have made statements like that in the past to be racist towards Chinese people and make them seem like disgusting people. I want to say something to school but I'm not sure if this is even complaint worthy... it just doesn't sound like something I want my children growing up saying or thinking.

Am I right to feel cross about this or am I overreacting??

From a world wide perspective, eating dogs is no better or worse than eating pigs

From a 7 yo living in the UK perspective, dogs are family pets, so that is what would make it 'worse' for them.

Each year in June, the city of Yulin in southern China hosts a dog meat festival, where live dogs and cats are sold specifically for eating and an estimated 10,000 are slaughtered for their meat.

The real problem here is the distinction between "some chinese people eat dogs" (true) and "all chinese people eat dogs" (untrue; racial stereotype). Careless use of language can turn facts to (offensive) falsehood.

My DC are mixed Chinese and I would find this racist and offensive. I would imagine that the TA probably intend to make a racist statement, so the TA needs to be made aware that it's an inappropriate thing to say. I know a lot of chinese people, including my DH, and I don't know a single person who has or would eat dog meat. Yes it's previously been common in mainland China, but it's becoming less common now.

It's just not a true statement, just like you can't really make any general statements about a large group of people.

Not all Muslim women wear a hijab, some do. Not all British people are fat, some are.

OP if I were you, I'd have a private word with the class teacher and explain what happened. The teacher can then decide to have a discreet word with the TA if necessary.

I do worry when people believe that something they don't agree with is racist.

It's a fact.

Exactly this. I think a lot of posters on this thread are outing themselves without even realising it

I do worry when people can't understand that language matters, and context is important, especially with young children.

But we don’t know the exact wording used because OP wasn’t there and is taking her information from a child.
It’s possible that neither determiner was used. It unlikely the determiner “all” was used.
I would say “They eat dog meat in China” is a perfectly plausible (most likely) and factual statement the TA might have said.

in the past, some of the poorer people in china ate dogs as they were starving

It sounds like you're actually reinforcing the judgement here, by making up the part and then being in the past and starving.

Doesn't it make more sense to say something like "people around the world eat different sorts of animals, for example, some people in France eat Horse, some people in Australia eat crocodile and some people in China eat dog - it's not bad, it's just different."

Nope! As other posters have pointed out: it's the negative connotations this gives a 7 year old without a proper explanation. The human/dog/pet relationship in the UK makes it divisive. To make a statement, that does hold a historical racist undertone, without a proper explanation (which I was clearly unable to give) will create racial bias.

Thee Chinese eat dogs' is not a statement that conveys any value or judgement unless you percieve that what you do is right and what other nations do is wrong.

It does, if that country, speaking to small children, dogs are typically seen as family pets, and therefore eating dogs would seem awful.

For many adults, they can get the context without explanation but children of 7 can't.

Thank you for pointing it out, OP.
It is problematic. Depending on context, it might well be racist.

What about, 'Irish people eat potatoes'?

Similar issue.

Teaching used to be all about stereotypes, but nowadays we expect a bit more intelligence from schools

You don’t know that’s exactly what she said though. You can’t quote a 7 year old word for word. She may have said some at the start and your 7 year old didn’t hear it or can’t remember it. Go and clutch your pearls somewhere else.

Outing themselves as having critical thinking skills and a functioning prefrontal cortex.

Back to your question OP, I think I would tread lightly with the school.

It could very well be that the TA did give context which didn't make it in their re-telling to you!

The most meaningful and thoughtful response so far.

I think "the Chinese" is fine in this context because I seriously doubt anyone on here seriously believes that it must mean all Chinese people. In the OP's example the confusion is probably because it's a child who is repeating what they believe they heard.

Would it be wrong to say "the Germans" were the enemy of "the British" in WWII? There were certainly some British people who did not see every German person as an enemy and chances are there were some Germans (for example, Jewish Germans who were sent to concentration camps) who did not see every British person as an enemy.

Even saying something like "the Scots have 2nd January as a public holiday each year" wouldn't automatically make you assume that every person who considers themselves Scottish gets the day off - some might live abroad, others might work in the emergency services.

I think that if the example of the Chinese the OP gives shows racism at all, it's showing it in the minds of the people who claim the statement is racist. It's only because they see it as a bad thing that dogs are eaten that they believe "the Chinese" is an inappropriate term. Basically, people who think the OP's example is racist are racist themselves because they believe that their own world view is correct and that people who differ (eg by eating dogs) are wrong.

It's just fact. Different cultures est different things. Some cultures eat insects. Some eat horsemeat. Doesn't mean everyone does. Like not everyone eats eels. Eek the very thought.

Absolutely so

I think "the Chinese" is fine in this context because I seriously doubt anyone on here seriously believes that it must mean all Chinese people.

This was said to impressionable 7-year olds not MN users.

7 year old DS said that a TA at his school stated "the Chinese eat dogs". He said they were talking about what people in other countries eat.

So there was a class conversation with a group of 7 year olds about what people in other countries eat. So its wasn't a statement 'out of the blue' about chinese people eating dogs. It was said as the class were talking about, i imagine, the differences of the types of food eaten in other countries that we generally do not eat here.
How is that racist?
Said out of the blue about chinese people, I can see where you might get racist from. But in context of the actual class discussion I can't see it.

I imagine other countries were mentioned? France, known for eating snails and frog legs, some countries eat goat. Some eat insects. Obviously not every person in that country eats those things, but these things are eaten there by people of that nationality.

People eating dog probably stood out to a 7 year old because we have dogs as family pets here. Hence thats the one he focused on and told you about.

How do you expect your child to learn what other cultures eat if they are not allowed to be told it?

Reposting!

I would say the phrasing "the Chinese" is a bit off, there is something that's a bit in the realm of prejudice/stereotyping when referring to a group of people like that.

However, the statement in itself is not racist, not because it can't be used as racist, but the reason for that is our own cultural bias. We don't in the UK eat dogs, I feel confident in saying this influence the majority of people from the UK when hearing that other cultures do eat dogs. So it's our own cultural biases which make it feel negative and therefore a bit racist.

You need to travel more hon.

Hi Op
Unfortunately they still do eat dogs 🐕 etc in China
I wish it wasn't true
But it's sadly a fact,
Obviously they don't eat dogs here in this country ,

I think context should have been given aswell with this
About different cultures eat different kinds of culinary foods traditions ect

It could be an opportunity to a interesting talk discussion.

It's all in context isn't it

To be fair, there’s a huge dog meat festival held annually in China. Thousands of dogs are consumed across 10 days.

Dogs are seen as meat in China, just like snails are common in French cuisine.

Would you think it racist if someone said “they eat eels in London”. It’s historically part of cuisine.

Acknowledging differences in cultures is not racist.