Is this comment racist?

[piedpeppa]

NC for this as appalled it even happened.

Something came up on tv about Japan and 4yr old DS (who asks questions non-stops these days) says to DH, what is Japan?
I'm in the kitchen and I can hear DH telling DS that it's a country with amazing technology and food etc. Then he goes, 'you know how me and mum and your teachers all look different?
Well in Japan, everyone looks the same.'
I couldn't believe he'd just said that!

I piped in immediately and said you can't teach him that, it's a rude stereotype and racist af!
He argues it's not racist and is actually true. I was so upset and told him he can't teach DS things like that! So shocked.

AIBU here????

🤣🤣🤣

Interesting.
I have taught in Asian countries and the children in my class had identical haircuts as part of their uniform plus same colour hair and eyes. Faces still had many differences to me and I could tell them apart straight away.

Other teachers struggled.

When I was in Hong Kong our tour guide made us keep hold of tickets for when we left as the driver openly said he couldn't tell us apart. This included the men from the women and many different hair colours etc. I found it really odd .

@VerticalHorizon

....and that is how I met your mother

I think if he isnt normally racist then I would put it down to ignorance. I'm surprised an adult in this day and age wouldn't realise that was racist though.

Fucking hell and to teach a kid that!!

Made me think of a thing a while ago with a load of white male Hollywood actors who all looked the same. They really did!

Also bizarrely now my dad is a bit elderly, and I don't usually wear glasses. I keep thinking someone on the street in our town is him until I get closer. There are about 6 who are all bald and white and wear very similar clothes

nort to excuse him, but could he had realised what an incredibly stupid thing he said and then got all defensive?

A racist remark if there ever was one. If anyone tells you otherwise they are incredibly racist and should educate themselves.

@Drunkenmonkey

I think if he isnt normally racist then I would put it down to ignorance. I'm surprised an adult in this day and age wouldn't realise that was racist though.

This is the first time I've heard such an offensive comment from him. He was quite angry I labelled him racist because of it hence my question if I was being unreasonable.

Entering China as a tour group, we all had to stand in the same order as our passports ( previously given to the tour guide) because the border guards couldn't tell us apart. Didn't occur to any of us that it was racist- just a statement of fact.

The only explanation I could think of is if and your DH and your DS’s teacher are all from different ethnic backgrounds. There is less ethnic diversity in Japan. But I’m clutching at straws rather. Good on you for seeing this as a teaching opportunity!

You know - this thread has made me think...

When we use the term 'racist' (or 'racism'), it's very easy to imagine vindictive or grotesque prejudice, but it really doesn't have to be like that (and often isn't).

'They all look the same to me' - is a phrase often heard, although nowadays more likely to be whispered. It may well be seemingly true for some people, although I doubt anybody would truly claim they all look exactly the same, merely 'similar' in some features.

Racism doesn't have come from a bad place. It can exist in the most well intentioned people. There's possibly an argument to say there is a racist in us all, or certainly a degree of prejudice towards others.

It's a good thing that a simple thread like this can cause us to think, and to identify even casual racism. Recognising it in others is easy. Acknowledging it in ourselves is a little harder.

Just today I had a conversation about China (and their political power). Even in a seemingly innocuous conversation, it's very easy to say 'the trouble with the Chinese is...'

How often do we say 'The Scottish...', or 'the Welsh...' as if somehow, they are entire homogenous?

@Georgyporky

Entering China as a tour group, we all had to stand in the same order as our passports ( previously given to the tour guide) because the border guards couldn't tell us apart. Didn't occur to any of us that it was racist- just a statement of fact.

There’s a difference between acknowledging a well scientifically research fact that it can be harder for someone of a different race to quickly identify differences between two people of the same race, and deciding that this is not with the cognitive function of the “looker” but simply because “they all look the same.”

That’s quite different.

That’s even before you add in that culturally, variations on “they all look the same to me” from a who’re person is just always going to be problematic.

Your post op was always going to cause hysteria from the usual suspects.

Try to take a step back, was he being intentionally racist? Or was he stating how he perceived Japanese with no ill intent. As georgy states the reverse can happen and it’s not perceived as racist

I’d look at the intent here.

Racist AF.

*white person

@Bluntness100

Your post op was always going to cause hysteria from the usual suspects.

Try to take a step back, was he being intentionally racist? Or was he stating how he perceived Japanese with no ill intent. As georgy states the reverse can happen and it’s not perceived as racist

I’d look at the intent here.

Oh dear god, the ignorance

@Georgyporky

Entering China as a tour group, we all had to stand in the same order as our passports ( previously given to the tour guide) because the border guards couldn't tell us apart. Didn't occur to any of us that it was racist- just a statement of fact.

Saying people of different ethnicities can struggle with recognising those from ethnicities they have not been exposed to much

Is very different from saying they all look the same

@Bluntness100

Your post op was always going to cause hysteria from the usual suspects.

Try to take a step back, was he being intentionally racist? Or was he stating how he perceived Japanese with no ill intent. As georgy states the reverse can happen and it’s not perceived as racist

I’d look at the intent here.

Unintentional racist language us still racist language. Especially when it's defended rather than apologised for when the racist overtones are pointed out.

Casual or unintentional racism still isn't acceptable and we can all learn to do better, rather than cling to our ignorance. The fact that you dismiss the views of people who don't tolerate racist language as a 'brigade' makes it clear that you'd rather cling to ignorance than learn and progress.

Racism is racism.

Intent is another matter.

Racism can come from a good heart. It doesn't have to be malicious, but it's still racism.

If someone makes a hilarious joke, it's funn

Apologies - you didn't say brigade. Just hysterical.

So a nice dose of internalised misogyny with the racism-excuses

oops, is someone makes an overtly hilarious joke, it's funny as hell... and we don't question the motives.

If someone makes an overtly racist comment, it's racist as hell... why do the motives make it any less so?

Nope, not racist because I'm sure if you asked a Japanese person, they'd say that everyone in the UK looks the same, and I don't find that offensive in the slightest.

Everyone knows that 'they all look the same' is offensive no matter who says it about whom.

Nothing naive or unintentional about it.

Very odd, hes 4 yrs old, DH could have said so much more. Food, culture, heritage etc.

Yes of course it’s racist.

Would like to point out to pp there is a HUGE difference between “I struggle to tell Japanese people apart because I haven’t met many Japanese people” and “all Japanese people look the same” ffs.