Page 6 | Is this fabric offensive?

TempName01 · 2020-09-03T10:49:55+00:00

I really like this fabric but I’m unsure whether it could be seen as offensive or at the least raise an eyebrow if you saw it in someone’s house? It’s got a stereotypical Native American character in it.

SurfnTerfFantasticmissfoxy · 03/09/2020 14:25

I don't know if it's offensive culturally but it's certainly an offence to good taste

CleverCatty · 03/09/2020 14:28

@ragged

What do you want to use it for? Just looks like a cross person not specific to any genuine culture so ... very make-believe to me.

same here - i mean if you really look closely you can see it's native american but can't see it from afar. It looks like a typical make believe character and could just be a jokey make believe character. It's not like Hiawatha and her chums are doing a native american dance and they're scalping the american civil war soldiers!

LadyLairdArgyll · 03/09/2020 14:30

I LOVE IT 🌺 it's fun fresh pretty vibrant and colourful ☺️

FrankskinnerscRoc · 03/09/2020 14:32

It reminds me of holidays, I quite like it.

Original poster

TempName01 · 03/09/2020 14:33

@SmileyClare

Yeah the faux innocence on this thread is laughable. As are the "your house, your choice hun" comments.

I'm not buying this thread at all and doubt op has any intention of using that fabric all over her sofas. I think it's deliberately goading a reaction.

Why on earth choose that image when there are literally hundreds of other different patterned fabrics available in those colours? And then post pictures of it on a public forum (and not engage in any sort of discussion afterwards?).

I have been responding and I was genuinely interested in the fabric, I haven’t seen any other cheap ready made sofa covers I like. I like quirky things but I don’t want to inadvertently offend someone. I really don’t care if people like the style of it!

OP posts:

SwearyMaclary · 03/09/2020 14:40

Those people who say they aren’t offended, you are missing the point here.

Have a little think about why covering your sofa with racist stereotypes might be a touch problematic.

SmileyClare · 03/09/2020 14:41

Fair enough OP. It's probably very cheap because there are no takers for the pattern. It's poor taste really, even if some people are saying but..but..what if it was frenchman with onions and other such nonsense.

You clearly had a few reservations before you even started the thread. I wouldn't buy it.

Wobblywibblywoo · 03/09/2020 14:48

It looks fine! I’ve seen similar cartoon characters.

lowlandLucky · 03/09/2020 14:49

If you like it use it, if you don't then don't. It is not culturally inappropriate.

SmileyClare · 03/09/2020 15:01

As mentioned, how is this any different to having cartoon golliwogs on items? They were deemed racially insensitive, a not particularly flattering caricature of a minority group.

This isn't much different. I just think it's in bad taste, not something to seek out and buy to display in your house, however Fun or Quirky you're trying to be.

DidoAtTheLido · 03/09/2020 15:25

I would walk in and go "WTF!! Have you actually looked at your sofa fabric?" in a loud shocked tone.

we are a (BAME family)

AcrossthePond55 · 03/09/2020 15:26

I'm of Native American ancestry. I don't know if I'd qualify it as 'offensive' as I usually reserve that for blatantly racist imagery. BUT I would call it insensitive and if I saw it in someone's house I'd wonder about someone who would think it appropriate.

The 'cartoony' quality reminds me of certain sports teams logos and advertising characters that are supposed to be 'cute', as in 'cute = inoffensive'. They aren't and it isn't.

occa · 03/09/2020 15:40

The 'cartoony' quality reminds me of certain sports teams logos and advertising characters that are supposed to be 'cute', as in 'cute = inoffensive'. They aren't and it isn't.

Exactly. It reminds me of Wahoo

MrsTerryPratchett · 03/09/2020 15:46

@IamTomHanks

more like an attempt at a Mayan or Incan

It's honestly like someone took a bit of every stereotypical image of natives from North and South America and Hawaii and mashed them together into one offensive caricature.

Quite a feat really.

This.

It's eye-wateringly offensive. Possibly people are not seeing that because the UK doesn't have large populations of indigenous people and they don't know.

But just absolutely no to this.

daisypond · 03/09/2020 15:46

I like bold prints and I like the colours and busyness of the fabric, but not with those characters on it. There must be other bold tropical-type fabrics around.

Elephantday82 · 03/09/2020 15:53

Unless you pointed it out to people I don’t think anyone in the real world would even look that closely or think anything of it.

SmileyClare · 03/09/2020 16:07

"people probably won't notice it" isn't a great counter argument.

MadeleineMaxwell · 03/09/2020 16:32

I love it and would absolutely adore a sofa with some angry little characters popping up here and there to glare at people, just without the lazy caricatures with the racist undertones, really.

Buy it and embroider/paint/crochet over them!

Original poster

TempName01 · 03/09/2020 16:44

I’m glad I asked, I kind of expected people to say it was inappropriate but quite surprised how strongly a lot of you feel about it. I wouldn’t have likened it to a gollywog, I’m not really sure why I thought that but perhaps it is like PPs have said it isn’t UK history/culture in the same way. I am now looking for something else!

OP posts:

AcrossthePond55 · 03/09/2020 17:17

@TempName01

I’m glad I asked, I kind of expected people to say it was inappropriate but quite surprised how strongly a lot of you feel about it. I wouldn’t have likened it to a gollywog, I’m not really sure why I thought that but perhaps it is like PPs have said it isn’t UK history/culture in the same way. I am now looking for something else!

Why on earth would you think that a caricature of a Native American is any different than a caricature of a Black person simply because we aren't a part of 'your' culture? An Australian aboriginal isn't really a part of US culture, but I'd still see a caricature of one as offensive.

There's no difference between a gollywog and that picture. Both are supposed to be 'cute' and 'humourous'. Neither are.

In fact, I'd say if I put up a 'caricature' of a 'pip pip cheerio', drinking tea and eating a scone person in hunting pinks and said 'typical Brit ha ha ha' you might be offended yourself. And you would be right to be.

IamTomHanks · 03/09/2020 18:19

@justleaving

It's fine if you like it. Not my cup of tea but doesn't have to be.

So many people saying they find it offensive?! Really? Think they need to get over themselves - people find offence in bloody everything these days...

So I need to get over everything that's happened to half my family and pretend it's never happened so some white British lady can pretend her sofa cover is innocent cartoons? Are British people really so thick about the impact they had on people?

IamTomHanks · 03/09/2020 18:21

@lowlandLucky

If you like it use it, if you don't then don't. It is not culturally inappropriate.

Yes it is.

LadyLairdArgyll · 03/09/2020 18:26

If you like it use it, if you don't then don't. It is not culturally inappropriate

agreed 🌺

IamTomHanks · 03/09/2020 18:26

Jesus reading half the replies, the more convinced I am that mumsnet is being taken over my right wing trolls.

It's offensive. People of First Nations descent have confirmed this. It is not about being woke. It's about respecting other cultures.

LadyLairdArgyll · 03/09/2020 18:30

Some people spend their entire lives looking for reasons to be offended...

the Fabric design was drawn... it was commissioned to Fabric .. it reached mass production all the while nobody was offended ... then it appears on Mumsnet.. and boom.. everyone is offended 🙄