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AIBU?

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

198 replies

Brigantia · 02/10/2013 21:23

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

OP posts:

Report

Chibbs · 03/10/2013 15:54

I dont get it either! why on earth would being called 'white' offend me!? i AM white. the bitch part might offend me- but not hugely!

I just dont get why people get so offended when someone calls them a black... or a indian.... etc - if you are black or indian then what is the problem? - apart from obviously the bitch/slut/ twat insult that came after.

tbh I dont get why people get all het up over "racist" insults eg. calling someone a monkey - unless you actually think you look like a monkey then why would you be offended?!

SaskiaRembrandtVampireHunter · 03/10/2013 15:55

"Being white was the genetic lottery win for centuries"

What about my white Irish ancestors? Their whiteness didn't exactly help them much.

fragola · 03/10/2013 16:21

I had this insult hurled at me a few times when I used to walk to work through a predominantly Asian area. It was racist and I was offended because it was made clear that it was my whiteness that they found abhorrent, it was my whiteness that made me a bitch.

DoNotTellMeWhatToDo · 03/10/2013 16:25

But I am white therefore why would that be an insult QuintessntialShadows

Don't act all ignorant/stupid please OP, this is a really daft AIBU.

Of course it's a racist comment. If someone called a black person a black bitch that would be racist and I am sure they would feel it an insult even though they were black.

QuintessentialShadows · 03/10/2013 16:50

But I am white therefore why would that be an insult QuintessntialShadows

Actually thinking about that one some more.

If I was a black woman, and somebody said to me:
"You black bitch"
and another said to me "you white bitch" (bearing in mind I was black)

Which one would be the bigger insult??

Surely it is the reference to my actual skin colour that makes it an insult?

QuintessentialShadows · 03/10/2013 16:50

And what did I say that was deleted?
QuintessentialShadows Wed 02-Oct-13 21:55:19
Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

WahIzzit · 03/10/2013 16:51

Yabu..

I am Asian and would find it racist if a white friend was called by that term. Its down to what the intention was behind it, and its pretty obvious that was used in a derogatory way.
I totally get that black people have been the subject of racism for hundreds of years, and even here in the UK we still have a long way to go with regards to acceptance and equality of ethnic minorities, BUT that does not mean we can trivialize or dismiss racial slurs towards white people. Surely everyone has a responsibility but the average white person cannot be made to feel guilty nor bear the burden of what their forefathers possibly did towards those of a different ethnicity or colour. We can only learn from the historical events.
Also about white people being the majority therefore it isn't racism unless institutionalized etc - sorry I fail to understand that comment. Racism is racism no matter how its dressed up.

Thants · 03/10/2013 18:07

I agree op. Racism against white people doesn't exist. It doesn't hold the same weight because white people are the dominant and privileged group in this society.

WahIzzit · 03/10/2013 18:10

What, so every single white person in this society is privileged?

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 03/10/2013 18:15

Chibbs

I don't really know where to start with that one. Assuming you genuinely don't know - are you not aware that black people's looks, manners, behaviour, morals was perceived as subhuman and compared to animals? And that being perceived as subhuman meant that slavery was justified and basic human rights denied to black people for centuries?

As for the insult that comes after the black/white thing, that's what makes it racist. The pairing of an insult with the race.

Thants · 03/10/2013 18:16

No there are other issues such as class, sex. Sexuality, ability etc.
But this is the same as accusing someone of heterophobia! It's absurd.
White people aren't persecuted and held back from power, money, freedom and human rights because of their colour and never have been in this society. That is being privileged.

tethersend · 03/10/2013 18:18

Thants- LOVE your NN.

Look Around You?

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 03/10/2013 18:18

It's not absurd. If a person has judged negatively me on the basis of my colour, that's prejudice. Prejudice about race = racism

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 03/10/2013 18:19

sorry, that was meant to read: "If someone has judged me negatively ...."

WahIzzit · 03/10/2013 18:24

Yes but on an individual basis, say someone makes a remark about a person's colour and says it in a derogatory way as he/she considers this person inferior to him/her, and it makes this person feel utterly shit and offended, can you really say it doesn't matter if the recipient of this comment happens to be white?

tethersend · 03/10/2013 18:27

I think we need to separate individual reactions to racist abuse, which are perfectly justified but quite subjective, from the context they are placed in within our society.

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 03/10/2013 18:32

tether

I know what you are saying. But I think racist intent should be recognised wherever it comes from.

tethersend · 03/10/2013 18:41

Agreed, Jamie.

But I think the key to combatting racism is to examine it within current contexts- accept that it is not simple, it is not always obvious, and it is often complex.

QuintessentialShadows · 03/10/2013 20:25

I think it might be useful to distinguish between racial discrimination and racially induced hatred/intolerance.

Bazoo23 · 03/10/2013 21:39

I dont think " you white bitch" is racist.
But neither is "you black bitch".

All this its ok to be racist to whites because they deserve it after slavery etc is fucking scary.

People wonder why UKIP are gaining such support? This thread is very insightful.

tethersend · 03/10/2013 21:46

"All this its ok to be racist to whites because they deserve it after slavery etc is fucking scary."

I seem to have missed where that was said, Bazoo- can you quote?

tethersend · 03/10/2013 21:47

Why don't you think "you [insert skin colour here] bitch" is racist?

PaulSmenis · 03/10/2013 21:53

I'd find the phrase "white bitch" more offensive in terms of it being sexist.

Bazoo23 · 03/10/2013 21:57

Because I am white.
And people are black.

What is the problem? Paki/Nigger = Racist. But black or white I just dont see the issue.

liquidstate · 03/10/2013 21:59

Is this a good time to mention the white slave trade?

(Disclaimer - am in no way suggesting it was as extensive as the slave trade in the Indies and Caribbean, however it did happen )

IMO 'white' is not an insult, 'bitch' is an insult, 'white bitch' is a racial insult.

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