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??

It may interest you to know I have been to the East and have been offered dog meat n the menu. It is a fact!

How can people say it's not a statement of fact when there is literally a famous annual dog eating festival in Yulin. 😂

A lot of Chinese people eat dogs. That's fact. They're not starving and it's happening now, not in the past. That's fact, however much the op tries, for some bizarre reason, to whitewash over it.
A lot of Chinese people don't eat dog. Also fact.
There's a lot of people looking to be offended on here, how on earth do you get through your everyday lives?
And as for going into school over this....get a grip! Do you honestly think schools don't have enough to do without adding to it with stuff like this?

It doesn't have to be more complex than saying that "in China dogs traditionally were not seen as pets and for the Chinese eating a dog is similar to eating chicken in the UK".

You obviously do judge dog eating. Are you aware of the reality of poultry farming?

It's considered a delicacy in some areas

Yes it is, and it's not cheap, so first of all tourists needn't worry about seeing it on every menu, and secondly it's hardly just eaten by "poor people" - at least not these days

So what the TA said was factual, but as with so much it depends how it was said and what context was offered, which none of us can say without having been there

Think you're over complicating it like others have said
Not racist but factual
Could they have thrown a "some" Chinese people in there sure does it change anything materially no

It’s no different than Chinese people learning we eat lamb. Many people in the far east think that makes your sweat smell and is gross.

Honestly dogs are NOT just eaten because people are starving🤣🤣🤣

There are far more unsettling things eaten around the world than dogs! What about a balut or caviar or crickets or placenta or civet cats?

Sure, but if what they’re learning is misinformed/ lazy/ judgemental, is it still worth it?

It is still the truth. You cannot tell people how to speak about things when it’s factually correct. It’s also different stating a fact in calm discussion than taunting someone and intentionally trying to cause offence. Then the word “black” would be completely forbidden right? It’s about intention. You can’t forbid someone to speak the truth.

Anyone who thinks the dog meat trade is a thing of the past, or only eaten in desperation by the poorest people, should go and look up slaughterhouse survivors on Instagram. They’re an excellent charity rescuing dogs (and cats and pigs and foxes) from the dog meat traders in China. OP I think the TA worded it badly and perhaps that’s because they do hold a racist view of Chinese people, but rather than lie to your child about why some people in China eat dog meat you could use it as an educational opportunity. Not just about meat eating but also about why generalising statements about entire races of people are harmful.

Some Chinese people do eat dogs, some French people eat horses, some Mexicans eat Guinea Pigs, some Thai people eat locusts and scorpions. HTF is it racist? Maybe expend your energy explains to your kids that people in different countries eat different things, and it is not offensive to discuss it.

I don't understand all the tiptoeing about - 'some Chinese people sometimes ate dog....once upon a time....when they were starving'.

It's no different to us eating cows (sacred Hindu animal) or eating pig (regarded as unclean by Muslims).

@JustForThisOneTime
Firstly, you mean ARE not WERE. Dogs are still a popular cuisine.

You don’t know that isn’t what was said. Kids aren’t going to regurgitate fact word for word. The summary of your statement is that “people eat dogs in China”.

Yes, which is why I went vegetarian age 7 and we know where a vast majority of our animal products come from. Our products ie make up, cleaning, etc are leaping bunny approved. HTH ✌🏻

Quite a lot of cultures eat dogs, the TA should not be ‘picking’ on one.
Im guessing she’s read a lot about the Yulin Cat and Dog Eating festival held every June in Yulin China
Thats why she’s heard about it

She should be saying a lot of countries eat dogs……..She needs to be more informed.

This is an important point. Today, there is a push to make things "offensive" that are true. Like the fact that women don't have a penis.

some French people eat snails".. it's not a nation of people slurping molluscs out of shells

Even if they did, what would be the problem?

Fact. What about the dog meat festival?

Not once upon a time
Not because they were starving
See Yulin festival…that’s for fun….

The truth is hardly racist is it ? The french eat horses big deal, we [not me personally -vegan] eat many dead things that other countries would be wtf does that make them racist too??

I mean, surely people realise that chow chow was originally the main ingredient in a chow mein.

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

I am inclined to view this as a discriminatory statement. It implies that others in another culture would make judgements aligned to British values if they weren't starving. I believe that many animals that we don't eat in the UK are consumed either for their supposed intrinsic qualities or because people enjoy the taste. It's not hard to get bushmeat in London for example.

The age of the child is relevant as is where and how they live. Eating rabbit, eels, pigeon etc maybe much more common in rural locations and some free-range peafowl that used to wander my neighbourhood were eaten by folks who considered them literally 'fair game'.

Yes. Very goady OP. She had clearly made up her mind before she posted so the 'question' was just a way to start an argument.

@JustForThisOneTime
oh and FWIW, I hate the cruel way the dogs are kept and killed. That isn’t based upon culture or race, my dislike of it is based upon animal welfare.

Some Chinese people eat dog meat today, for pleasure, not because they are “starving”.

Attitudes are changing however, as dog ownership increases and post-Covid the government is discouraging dog meat consumption.

""some French people eat snails".. it's not a nation of people slurping molluscs out of shells."

You really don't HAVE to add some here. The French eat snails is true enough (doesn't have to be everybody).