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.

This. Asian people have eyes FFS. Not lines.

I think it HAS been challenged though. I couldn't see what was offensive initially but it's been helpful to hear from people that it offends.

Jesus @happyinherts , when you've already had a comment removed do you not think it might be time to reflect on your views rather than pushing a racist viewpoint?
As for 'how they are depicted' - it's a child's dress, with pictures of children on it. If this is a child dressed as a geisha, do you not see that as being quite problematic?

If I'm honest, I wouldn't have noticed if it hadn't been pointed out. When wearing it, I wouldn't be looking that closely at the features on a child's clothes ffs.

Yes this seals the deal really and I'm glad I asked.

I know not everyone would be offended but still I don't want to offend at all in something like this.

A Geisha in itself is not offensive (although referring to then as a ‘Geisha girl’ is) but it is an adult occupation and inappropriate to depict a very young child as a Geisha to show she is Japanese.

By recognising that there is no such thing as “cultural facial characteristics” , and that every individual on the planet, unless they have an identical twin , has a unique combination of skin colour, eye colour and facial features. To reduce those down to a shorthand of sloping lines for eyes and a face covered in white make up is offensive.

And , incidentally, culturally insensitive since this approximation of geisha make up is inappropriate to represent a child.

@SnackyOnassis I actually have not had any message removed. Mine are there in full, thanks.

👆are you always so unkind?

Aren’t like 95% of threads on mumsnet about seeking other people’s opinions? It’s half the point of forums in the first place

Not everything but a lot of things are - if others had to walk in someone's else shoes for a year I think they may feel differently.

Do you have a mind of your own, or do you always have to check with the "progressive hive" of Mumsnet if something is "offensive" or not? Pathetic.

Progressive hive or in this case people from the actual cultures misrepresented?

Omg stop, it’s soo cute! And vintage Disney, which makes it even more special. I love it!

@Francisca459 hahaha I can live with being called pathetic.

I just wanted to check in with people as I definitely don't have my finger on the pulse.

Guessing you're not a fan of AIBU then? Or Mumsnet in general?

What happened to you to make you so full of bile?

OP if you’re handy with a needle maybe you could redo the eyes of the 3rd left character? Only if you particularly want to be able to use the dress that is. It’s pretty cute aside from that

I think the Japanese child looks like a caricature, so might be offensive to someone of that heritage - I say 'might' as I'm not of that heritage, but I'd probably avoid giving it to a child to wear, to be safe.

Exactly this. It’s not for anyone to decide if someone else should be offended or not.

I’d not put my child in this, and Disney wouldn’t sell it today.

Although you’re unlikely to get a true sense of this on MN, as there is a big and known race issue on here

The question now is 'what do I do with the dress?'

It's easy to say it's gone too far when it has nothing to do with you and has no impact on your whatsoever.. 🙄

Yeah, I think it's the eyes on the Asian character that make it a no-no these days.

I don't think it is. I think It's depicting diversity which is a good thing. However I am aware many people won't see it that way, and for that reason I'd feel uncomfortable with a child in my care wearing it