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AIBU?

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Original poster

to wonder why people still use this word.

372 replies

Creepycrawler · 30/04/2023 16:30

Half caste

My children are mixed race and my son when to his friend's house for a sleepover last night.
I was chatting to the mum when she used this term about another boy who '' is half caste as well''. Luckily, my son was in the car and didn't hear.
I was recently in hospital and having a conversation with someone who also used the term and I excused myself to go outside and sat somewhere else.

... And it's not just here. Several years ago H' s (Nigerian) aunty visited from Africa and used the term. We were both very uncomfortable and H told her we don't use that word.

Do people really not understand that it's offensive?

There is still a lot of racism where we live now (South Wales) and we get a lot of it at school ( where I work). I don't think this woman made the comment intentionally but surely people know by now not to use it?

OP posts:
Newjobformoremoney · 30/04/2023 16:33

Totally not ok. I Iive in London and it wouldn’t been acceptable to use that term.

notsayingmuch · 30/04/2023 16:33

Well, you have used an outdated word yourself! We were told in a staff meeting to never use mixed race but to use dual heritage. Words keep changing and unless you get told to use different words it can be hard to keep in the loop.

Saffronn · 30/04/2023 16:34

I’m in south London with mixed race children, and I’m grateful I’ve never heard it. I suspect the majority of kids are mixed race in a lot of places we end up.

Sorry you’re still getting this crap.

olderthanyouthink · 30/04/2023 16:34

I guess some places are slower to catch up but I haven't heard someone call half caste in person for a long time, maybe over ten years. Online maybe once or twice in that time.

Mischance · 30/04/2023 16:37

It is not easy to keep up frankly. Things change - what is acceptable one year is not the next. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and look at their intentions. It is very easy to say the wrong word inadvertently.

Booklover40 · 30/04/2023 16:37

Do people really not understand that it's offensive?

Well, no - language is changing constantly from what is acceptable and what isn’t so obviously some people won’t know until they’re told. My dm has used that term before and I’ve told her that it’s not pc nowadays and told her to use “mixed race” instead.

But a pp is saying that’s now unacceptable too 🤷‍♀️

Dotcheck · 30/04/2023 16:37

I agree that words keep changing. If I unintentionally offended someone, I would want to know. Can you tell her that it is a phrase which has fallen out of use?

TidyDancer · 30/04/2023 16:38

The only time I heard that used in recent years was on tv and the use of it was addressed and 'corrected' pretty much immediately.

I think the concept of language constantly evolving and everyday usage being slower to catch up is a lot to 'blame' here, rather than anyone being intentionally offensive.

Lockheart · 30/04/2023 16:38

It's not an OK word to use, but growing up I only ever saw it written down and I thought it was said like "half-cast" as in a mixed metal cast from two other metals, which seemed fairly innocuous to me at the time. I think it's been a very old-fashioned term for years so you don't hear it much and those that do use it have probably never been challenged on it.

olderthanyouthink · 30/04/2023 16:40

notsayingmuch · 30/04/2023 16:33

Well, you have used an outdated word yourself! We were told in a staff meeting to never use mixed race but to use dual heritage. Words keep changing and unless you get told to use different words it can be hard to keep in the loop.

Dual heritage does not work if you have more than two... I've not heard POC say they don't like mixed race though

TomatoSandwiches · 30/04/2023 16:40

You would be surprised at how insular some places in the UK still are, of course it's not OK but I would pay attention to the inflection and tone used and obviously the context and use it as an educational moment. Some people would be mortified and others unfortunately would double down, but then at least you know where you stand.

Goodoccasionallypoor · 30/04/2023 16:41

I'd say it was being used in ignorance rather than deliberate offence but I agree it's not ok and I haven't heard anyone say it in many years.

Nimbostratus100 · 30/04/2023 16:41

I get that is is unacceptable now, but in my childhood it was something to be said with pride, ( I am mixed race - I used to say half-caste with pride, and even my nephews and nieces used to say quarter-quarter-quarter-quarter- caste with pride, and not that long ago)

drinkyourtea12 · 30/04/2023 16:42

Older generations still tend to use it. I was also told at work you can't say mixed race. Sometimes it's best to say nothing at all.

Clementineorsatsuma · 30/04/2023 16:42

notsayingmuch · 30/04/2023 16:33

Well, you have used an outdated word yourself! We were told in a staff meeting to never use mixed race but to use dual heritage. Words keep changing and unless you get told to use different words it can be hard to keep in the loop.

Caste is not just a word tho. It has many connotations. And if the OP chooses to use mixed race for her own children then that's fine!

MrsMiagi · 30/04/2023 16:42

I dont like mixed race either really. There is only one race which is the human race. Mixed or dual heritage I think is better.

TomatoSandwiches · 30/04/2023 16:42

I'm pretty sure I've read something a while ago that HC was actually considered more polite for a certain past genera

TomatoSandwiches · 30/04/2023 16:43

Generation than Black or Mixed as well, I can't quote remember, maybe a BBC programme.

drinkyourtea12 · 30/04/2023 16:43

@Nimbostratus100 you're right the kids at my school said it with pride

Luredbyapomegranate · 30/04/2023 16:43

I haven’t heard that term for many years, but assuming you don’t think someone intended to offend, then you do just have to tell them. I know it can be exhausting, but there’s no way around it other than letting it go.

Nimbostratus100 · 30/04/2023 16:43

MrsMiagi · 30/04/2023 16:42

I dont like mixed race either really. There is only one race which is the human race. Mixed or dual heritage I think is better.

absolutely - I do use mixed race, but I agree it is a complete nonsense in a biological sense, and I try to remember to say mixed heritage, but I forget... I am 60, for context, and I am mixed heritage

kitsuneghost · 30/04/2023 16:44

Maybe it wasn't seen as offensive years ago in Nigeria.

Language changes and unless you have encountered the new language you will keel using the old.

IfYouDontAsk · 30/04/2023 16:44

Plenty of people still don’t know it’s an offensive term. I knew as a little girl not to use it but I’ve known quite a few people use it who would never knowingly use a racially offensive term.

Goodoccasionallypoor · 30/04/2023 16:44

notsayingmuch · 30/04/2023 16:33

Well, you have used an outdated word yourself! We were told in a staff meeting to never use mixed race but to use dual heritage. Words keep changing and unless you get told to use different words it can be hard to keep in the loop.

I find 'duel heritage' odd as it can used by so many people that it becomes meaningless.

Someone with a white Scottish and a white English parent could justifiably say they have dual heritage.

YouJustDoYou · 30/04/2023 16:44

We're mixed race too and I haven't heard that word in over, maybe, 20 years.

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