Is this dress offensive?

[freezingpompoms]

This dress was bought in America 20 years ago. It's a Disney Small World dress that depicts differing nationalities. It's age 2-3.

Someone said they didn't think it's very PC so I just want to check. I'm happy to be told either way.

In my opinion, that's a ridiculous comment. Yes, it depicts different nationalities. So what? It's a dress for a little girl, bright, inoffensive to me.

I wouldn’t put my daughter in it. I think the depictions of different nationalities are quite stereotyped and agree, not very pc.

One vote each way then. I wouldn't want to offend anyone nor be judged really.

Little girls in traditional style outfits. What's wrong with that?
It's cute and adorable.

I don’t think Disney would sell it today!

As an eastern Asian I would find the eyes on the Asian girl offensive.

It's a Small World is still an attraction at the Disney resorts worldwide and you can buy books on Amazon - the attractions and books feature those images. They are not non PC at all 🙄

I agree with the comment saying I wouldn’t put my child in it. The depictions seem stereotypical and the eyes on the Asian girl are more than a bit yikes to me. It’s not a very culturally sensitive item of clothing. I wouldn’t be offended by it, and I wouldn’t assume the parent of child in it was racist or seeking to cause offence either though.

I would not put my daughter in that. The stereotyped features are offensive.

Yes, it's offensive. I highly doubt they are still using the same images now. I certainly hope not.

Ffs, it's adorable. Horrified that you even have to raise the question. This shit has gone way too far.

The eyes on the Asian girl did make me cringe a bit

As an eastern Asian I would find the eyes on the Asian girl offensive.

Hopefully this is sufficient to persuade you that it’s not acceptable OP. Just because others don’t get it, doesn’t mean it’s okay.

The depiction of the East Asian girl stood out, particularly the eyes. It’s not something I would be comfortable wearing or dressing a child in personally.

The shit of East Asian people talking about how western depictions of them makes them feel? Or the shit of people trying not to hurt other people?

It’s not the costumes that are offensive, as a PP pointed out it’s the heavily stereotyped facial features that make it so.

Sorry, traditional dress would be a better term.

It's... of its time.

Or maybe of an older time actually!

can you really not understand….I struggling to find a way explain to you why the ‘eyes’ as they are here seem incredibly offensive to me…

People actively look to be offended now. They really do. Intent and context is now ignored, if they can find a reason they will be offended.

the hat wouldn’t have me giving a second look, it’s not supposed to be some culturally accurate document.

You mean you’re offended but can’t work out why?

If you're struggling to find a way to explain why it's offensive - clearly it isn't overly so. Like I've said, how do we depict cultural facial characteristics then?

You’re asking if it’s offensive? How can you look at that and not realise that it’s offensive.

No I can. It’s why I put ‘eyes’ in inverted commas.