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Original poster

Is this dress offensive?

423 replies

freezingpompoms · 20/01/2023 14:58

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.

Is this dress offensive?
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happyinherts · 20/01/2023 23:16

We've all endured slurs or been bullied for something... The point is did the manufacturer of said skirt manufacture it with racist views. I'm not convinced they did. It was manufactured as a bright, happy garment depicting children of differing races, which many books of the time featured.

Bpdqueen · 20/01/2023 23:18

Ffs it's a child's skirt with cartoon characters on there's to many drama queen's on this app

Angelicat · 20/01/2023 23:23

Bpdqueen · 20/01/2023 23:18

Ffs it's a child's skirt with cartoon characters on there's to many drama queen's on this app

You say drama queens, we say people who care about basic human rights…

Interested in this thread?

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2 year olds Clothing General parenting
BewareTheLibrarians · 20/01/2023 23:24

A bright happy garment that was made with the best intentions at the time, but in 2023 the stereotypical outdated image means it’s insensitive and uncomfortable to East Asian people.

I don’t know what is controversial or dramatic about that at all 😂 Times change, people grow and learn.

NameChange005 · 20/01/2023 23:25

As pointed out by a pp, the only drama is those who are posting about woke nonsense and wanting to go back to the 1970s...

Everybody else just answered the question

Bpdqueen · 20/01/2023 23:26

Angelicat · 20/01/2023 23:23

You say drama queens, we say people who care about basic human rights…

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Your right let's ban everything incase it offends someone🙄

BadNomad · 20/01/2023 23:26

I mean, they used to make Golliwogs for children to play with. Caricatures of black people with exaggerated features. Just a bit of fun. Not racist as fuck at all right? 🙄

SweetcornFritter · 20/01/2023 23:29

Is it simply the angle of the eyes that’s causing offence on this dress or the fact that they are drawn as lines? If they were open eyes but slanted up would that have been acceptable?

Angelicat · 20/01/2023 23:30

Bpdqueen · 20/01/2023 23:26

Your right let's ban everything incase it offends someone🙄

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I think that’s a bit of an overreaction, don’t you? How about we just don’t do things which are well known to be systematically offensive on a societal level? Would that be a start? Rather than just writing everything off as hysteria?

Calphurnia88 · 20/01/2023 23:31

Bpdqueen · 20/01/2023 23:26

Your right let's ban everything incase it offends someone🙄

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Do you realise you are literally the biggest 'drama queen' (your words) on the thread? 🤦🏻‍♀️

Angelicat · 20/01/2023 23:34

SweetcornFritter · 20/01/2023 23:29

Is it simply the angle of the eyes that’s causing offence on this dress or the fact that they are drawn as lines? If they were open eyes but slanted up would that have been acceptable?

It’s not just the eyes. It’s the fact that use of these types of images to portray diversity, however well intentioned they may have been originally, are inappropriate now, as they don’t promote diversity, they promote othering, exotifying and stereotypes.

sidebirds · 20/01/2023 23:35

glitteryDiscoParty · 20/01/2023 18:54

No I completely disagree. The reason I knew she was East Asian was her kimono.

Also I think you need to broaden your experience of Japanese girls/women. I can 100% assure you that they do not all have narrow eyes. In fact, my friends refer to my eyes being “Disney princess” eyes as they are rather large.

Therefore “narrow eyes” is NOT an “immutable” characteristic of East Asians. In my opinion, it’s just as ridiculous as suggesting that all Scottish people are pale with blue eyes and wild red hair!

I think you need to educate yourself.

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errrr.... I am a English/Japanese woman myself, which you would know had you bothered to read what I said 🤯

SweetcornFritter · 20/01/2023 23:42

Angelicat · 20/01/2023 23:34

It’s not just the eyes. It’s the fact that use of these types of images to portray diversity, however well intentioned they may have been originally, are inappropriate now, as they don’t promote diversity, they promote othering, exotifying and stereotypes.

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So you’d consign Mulan to the bin of racist stereotypes as well then? I mean I don’t see people getting massively het up about that particular cartoon but perhaps I missed that mumsnet argument.

shockedNeighbour · 20/01/2023 23:43

@sidebirds you didn't previously state you were Japanese. You stated "East Asian".

I'm not going to enter into an argument with someone who believes all Japanese people have the same eyes. As the saying goes "...they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience"and all that.

Angelicat · 20/01/2023 23:49

SweetcornFritter · 20/01/2023 23:42

So you’d consign Mulan to the bin of racist stereotypes as well then? I mean I don’t see people getting massively het up about that particular cartoon but perhaps I missed that mumsnet argument.

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I mean, the thread’s not about Mulan it’s about a skirt but why not start your own thread about Mulan, maybe you’ll attract some people with more energy than I currently possess to carry on this increasingly ludicrous conversation.

A question was asked, people gave their answers and explained them. People who know what they’re talking about when it comes to this issue. Others decided the only way to contribute to the conversation was to yeahbut repeatedly, presumably because it’s easier just to call someone woke than to actually think about what they’re saying. It’s nearly 1:00, I do not have any more energy for this.

sidebirds · 20/01/2023 23:52

shockedNeighbour · 20/01/2023 23:43

@sidebirds you didn't previously state you were Japanese. You stated "East Asian".

I'm not going to enter into an argument with someone who believes all Japanese people have the same eyes. As the saying goes "...they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience"and all that.

who wants to argue with strangers online or anywhere? btw i didn't say that I "believe all Japanese people have the same eyes". the designer of the garment was using shorthand to identify an East Asian child they were including. This over sensitivity is ludicrous. Had a black child been depicted with dark skin on this item of clothing there would be a nuclear war on here. Peace out ✌🏾

Original poster
freezingpompoms · 21/01/2023 07:09

I've gone right off the dress now even if I alter the embroidery.

OP posts:
SweetcornFritter · 21/01/2023 07:12

Angelicat · 20/01/2023 23:49

I mean, the thread’s not about Mulan it’s about a skirt but why not start your own thread about Mulan, maybe you’ll attract some people with more energy than I currently possess to carry on this increasingly ludicrous conversation.

A question was asked, people gave their answers and explained them. People who know what they’re talking about when it comes to this issue. Others decided the only way to contribute to the conversation was to yeahbut repeatedly, presumably because it’s easier just to call someone woke than to actually think about what they’re saying. It’s nearly 1:00, I do not have any more energy for this.

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The skirt is inspired by Disney caricatures, Mulan is also a Disney character with extremely slanted eyes. Just pointing out that for consistency’s sake I can see no reason why if you’re against one you wouldn’t also be against the other. Hope you had a good night’s sleep.

ReneBumsWombats · 21/01/2023 07:14

freezingpompoms · 21/01/2023 07:09

I've gone right off the dress now even if I alter the embroidery.

I don't blame you.

I think the makers had good intentions, but the consensus is that we know better now. Just ditch it.

Q2C4 · 21/01/2023 08:30

Will no-one think of the brown-haired Nordics??

I just saw the skirt as depicting happy kids in national costumes. I certainly did not assume that the makers were depicting a little Asian girl as a prostitute (and indeed modern Geishas are not).

The children all have rosy cheeks - I didn't assume they were teething either.

Would it be ok to show a child in a kilt?

Are we now saying that all national costumes should be banned for being overly stereotypical? Wouldn't that equate to a loss of cultural identities / heritage?

Calphurnia88 · 21/01/2023 08:32

Q2C4 · 21/01/2023 08:30

Will no-one think of the brown-haired Nordics??

I just saw the skirt as depicting happy kids in national costumes. I certainly did not assume that the makers were depicting a little Asian girl as a prostitute (and indeed modern Geishas are not).

The children all have rosy cheeks - I didn't assume they were teething either.

Would it be ok to show a child in a kilt?

Are we now saying that all national costumes should be banned for being overly stereotypical? Wouldn't that equate to a loss of cultural identities / heritage?

The East Asian character has LINES FOR EYES.

Good lord.

This thread is the pits.

JoyPeaceHealth · 21/01/2023 08:46

Why is a line worse than a dot

Q2C4 · 21/01/2023 08:55

@Calphurnia88 you're assuming that is for racist reasons. Perhaps her eyes were meant to be closed?
A huge number of children's toys and cartoons (including anime) have characters with unrealistic eyes.
I don't think children will expect Asian people to have literal lines for eyes as a result, just as other ethnicities don't have dots for eyes.

If all the children were depicted as having the same shaped eyes, that wouldn't be diverse or inclusive either. For example,
this Chinese model was attacked online for having eyes that were "too narrow" www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-59807019

Calphurnia88 · 21/01/2023 09:07

Q2C4 · 21/01/2023 08:55

@Calphurnia88 you're assuming that is for racist reasons. Perhaps her eyes were meant to be closed?
A huge number of children's toys and cartoons (including anime) have characters with unrealistic eyes.
I don't think children will expect Asian people to have literal lines for eyes as a result, just as other ethnicities don't have dots for eyes.

If all the children were depicted as having the same shaped eyes, that wouldn't be diverse or inclusive either. For example,
this Chinese model was attacked online for having eyes that were "too narrow" www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-59807019

There is a long history in the use of slanted eyes to discriminate against Asians.

I didn't write that by the way, it's a quote from the article you just shared.

Q2C4 · 21/01/2023 09:23

@Calphurnia88 and look where that has left the Chinese model with "narrow eyes." Would you prefer all the characters to have the same shaped eyes?