Why is the term 'Oriental' considered offensive?

Question

Wendy apologises for Kat comments

Former EastEnder Wendy Richard has apologised for offensive comments she made about Big Brother's Kat.

Wendy apologises for Kat comments

pa.press.net

Former EastEnder Wendy Richard has apologised for offensive comments she made about Big Brother's Kat.

The 65-year-old actress - who appeared as a guest on offshoot talk show Big Brother's Little Brother - sparked a 'racism' row with a remark she made about Thai-born housemate Kathreya Kasisopa.

Wendy told LBC radio on Wednesday: "I'm so upset I'm so close to tears. I feel ill.

"I did not want to get BBLB in trouble. What I was trying to convey is that Kat did not betray her thoughts about what was going on in the house all of the time.

"I have just been told by an American friend that in the US, 'Oriental' is considered offensive and I did not know that. I did not mean to cause offence to anyone."

Wendy said on BBLB on Monday night: "What is it they say about these inscrutable Chinese? And she is Thai, but it is all Oriental isn't it? Well it is to me anyway."

Presenter George Lamb interrupted: "I don't think that is unique to Asian people, more to Kat."

Ofcom said it had received a number of complaints about the comments.

Wendy added to the radio station: "It's a long time since I was a school but I was thinking of those Arthur Conan Doyle books with Sherlock Holmes when it was the inscrutable Chinese.

"I'm terribly sorry and I certainly would not want to offend anyone, I'm not that sort of person. It has upset me a lot."

Answer 1

Oriental means pertaining to the Orient; I didn't know it was offensive, I know I would not be offended if I was called an "Oriental", after all I am from the Orient and I'm proud of it.

However, I would understand why "Orientalist" would offensive though, because it refers to a person from the Occident (i.e. the West) with a certain mindset (explained in Edward Said's "Orientalism") that is racist twoards the Orient.

Answer 2

Especially in the US, it is offensive because the word "Oriental" is supposed to refer to something that comes from the Orient, NOT someone. It's okay to say "The Oriental rug," but not "The Oriental woman." However, I hear that in parts of Europe, it is used to describe people of that area too.

Answer 3

It sounds like ****.

Answer 4

IDK...it sounds like a soup or something.