Why do some people call people from India and Pakistan "towel heads"?

Question

Last time I checked, these people only wear towels on their heads after they wash their hair, like most other people.

People in the Middle east wear turbans. I never saw anyone from India or Asia wear a turban. That's why I ask. And I have seen a turban.

Answer 1

Some people in India and Pakistan where turbans too. Itm just depends on there religion. It is also based on a muslim vails soe of them where. Even if they dont where to vail or turban, they look close enough to the people in the middle east, I assume.

It is just a racist term and it does not make sense. It is a bad term, but lets leave it in the past.

Not pffense, Pamala N, but most of your questions seem to focus on race and racism? Why is that?

Answer 2

because some wear turbans, which resemble towels, on their heads.

i'm sure you knew that and are just asking the question to prove some kind of point

the turban is worn by Sikh people, who are Indian

Due to the turbans Sikhs wear, people in Western countries have sometimes confused Sikhs with all Middle Eastern men. This has affected Sikhs in times of conflict with elements of the Middle East. For example, during the Iranian hostage crisis when the government of Iran held American hostages in its own country, some people in Western countries misunderstood the Sikh turban as a turban worn by all Middle Eastern men. After the attack on September 11, 2001, some people associated Sikhs with terrorists or members of the Taliban. A few days after the attack, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh, was gunned down by a person who thought that the victim had ties to Al-Qaeda, concluding that this misconception has lead to an unnecessary increase in hate-crimes against Sikh men. [3]

Answer 3

Well, I am pakistani, and I usually say "gori" in a negative way *sorry, i know its mean!* But it really depends on the context. It may be saying that the "gori" girl is beautiful, or the complete opposite. There is no way to know if it is a compliment or not without knowing the rest of the sentence. Edit: it may be used as a compliment to comment on someones skin, eyes, hair, etc, because most indians/Pakistanis do not have light hair or light eyes. It may be used as an "insult" because it hints that you are from America or Europe and can be "cheated" *out of money, etc* easily. These are just stereotypes, but like I said, you really can't tell if it is a good or bad thing, because it is easy to make it into both.

Answer 4

You never saw a turban before?

Answer 5

Sheer ignorance !