AIBU to think that if someone called me a 'white bitch' I would not find that racist

[Brigantia]

I've been reading the 2 asian guys chased me thread and I'm a bit confused.

If someone said to you 'white bitch' would you think that was a racial slur?

I wouldn't ..I'd just think they were arseholes

I'd be more concerned about the 'bitch' bit

[ICameOnTheJitney]

Brig Because he's chosen ONE feature about you to add to the word "bitch" now...if you had one leg and he shouted "You one legged bitch!" would that not be disabilst? Or not...I suppose you think that because you've only GOT one leg then it's not disabalist!?

[imofftolisdoonvarna]

However, for my twopenny' s worth:

Of course it is racist. No one pits a complimentary word in front of bitch or bastard do they? It's never beautiful or kind bitch, it's ugly or fat, so it's like a double insult. If someone puts someone's race before bitch or bastard I would assume they thought the race was a negative attribute too.

^^
This

[nennypops]

It's obviously racist. When it's put in front of "bitch" it's self-evidently not there as a pure description but as part of what is intended to be an aggressive insult. It is based purely on race. How can it be anything other than racist?

[Brigantia]

Yes they may well mean it in a degoatory sense but since when has being white an insult?

That is what is confusing me?

White is not a race

[AnyaKnowIt]

Black isn't a race either

[PossessedPollyPumpkin]

There is no need to use a persons skin colour unless it has some relevance though is there.
So if you call someone a white bitch, its obviously in a derogatory way.

[tethersend]

It is racist, but its impact is lessened by the fact that white people have not been oppressed for generations.

[QuintessentialShadows]

"Yes they may well mean it in a derogatory sense but since when has being white an insult?"

That is just a combination of arrogance in ignorance.

The moment you sit in a group of people and they start holding you responsible for the entire slave trade and tell you they wish they could kill you because they hate every white face on the planet, you will understand how it can be an insult.

[waltermittymissus]

So if I called someone a black bastard it wouldn't be racist, because he's black?

Come off it!

Of course it's racist to use your skin colour in a derogatory way. Maybe "racist" is not technically the correct term, since skin colour is not race but the principle is the same.

[FreudiansSlipper]

i just do not see it that way. it is not nice and it is an insult

my father is asian (my skin is olive i look more spanish so that is why i said i am white but i am mixed race). i have seen my family insulted called names. i have been called names when i was younger (was the 70's). being white i have never been considered to be less important by others my family have just because they are brown. they may not feel that way or other people i know but many have had it projected on to them

this is why i do not class it the same

[Stravy]

I think a better question might be 'AIBU to think that being called a 'white bitch' occasionally isn't really comparable to living day after day as an oppressed minority without the benefit of white privilege.'

I still think it's racist, in the way I think the diet coke advert is sexist but shouldn't be used as an argument that feminism isn't needed.

[BramshawHill]

Its being used as an insult so I'd find it racist.

[janey68]

Racist comments can be broader than making remarks about one specific race. When characteristics of a wide racial group - eg black, white , are used in derogatory manner, that's racist

Surely this is common knowledge in 2013?

[QuintessentialShadows]

"white people have not been oppressed for generations."

It just means the hatred might perhaps be less outspoken.

[Mimishimi]

YABU, it is racist.

[HildaOgden]

Because they aren't mentioning your 'whiteness' as a compliment...why can't you see that to mention anyones race whilst insulting them is a clear sign of racism?

[Brigantia]

The moment you sit in a group of people and they start holding you responsible for the entire slave trade and tell you they wish they could kill you because they hate every white face on the planet, you will understand how it can be an insult.


err ok .....that happens on a regular basis..not

[tethersend]

""white people have not been oppressed for generations."

It just means the hatred might perhaps be less outspoken."


Not really, Quint- it perhaps means that describing someone as white historically has far fewer negative connotations than describing someone as black. Thus, the insult is less powerful.

[LordElpuss]

OP - are you being deliberately thick?

[tethersend]

But is still racist.

[FreudiansSlipper]

no one is saying it is acceptable

some people are pointing out that is does not have the same negative connotations

[gnittinggnome]

When someone called me a "white bitch" and told me to get back to my own country, I felt that was pretty racist.

[QuintessentialShadows]

"When someone called me a "white bitch" and told me to get back to my own country, I felt that was pretty racist."

Me too. I had Scandinavian thrown in to the mix. Being Scandinavian is not an insult, but added together with bitch, or C..t it is.