Is the term "Oriental" an offensive one?

Question

(Tobermory is currently somewhat smitten by a Chinese lady from work...)

I believe you are right that the correct term is Asian, although I find myself more attracted to Chinese than to Indian women for example. Are there any people of Chinese/Japanese/Thai/Fillipino descent that have an opinion on the use of the word "Oriental" ?

Thanks for the advice, Bonsai Bobby but I don't think we'll go there. This may not be going anywhere but it's been a little crush for months and right now I'm not thinking about much else but her.

...and if "Oriental" is for things and not people, why is this so. There is still an Orient Express in existance so is the truth of the matter that the word "Orient" smacks of British Colonialism? Because the word itself is surely a very beautiful word, is it not?

Surely The Orient is an area contained within Asia. Rugs and vases may well come from this region but so do people. Does anyone listening identify as Oriental? If not: why not, please?

There are for example Persian rugs and Persian vases and at one time, there were Persian people too; only now I think that has become Iran, so they are Iranian instead. Myself I am a Westerner, an Englishman, a Yorkshire Tyke and these days feeling vaguely European to boot. Does my love for the word "Oriental" make me a bad person?

OK, so I did look up both Occidental and Oriental. This was interesting because it seems that the views of Brits and Americans differ on the use of the word.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental

Thank you for that Freebird: finally made contact with someone (your husband) who identifies with the word "Oriental". I am glad of this: I hate too much political-correctness for its own sake.

Thanks Juni: seems that opinions vary widely on this.

Answer 1

I don't think so, but it sounds a bit silly. It's like when you say someone is different because he/she comes from East, it's somewhat like what you say "exotic" when you talk about ppl from tropical islands...

Answer 2

I find the term Oriental offensive when used for people but of course it has become a usage now for material things. It is true that it smacks of colonialism , an age when being 'oriental 'meant you were a lower form of life. If someone called me that to my face, I would probably bite his head off. Some ignorant westerners still use that term . No reason for them not to understand the differnce but they choose to be small minded, I find. In fact I think calling someone 'white' or 'black' is also offensive too. There has got to be a better way to do this.

Answer 3

It's interesting to see that this term is considered to be a pejorative term in the USA. My Japanese American husband was surprised by it too. He has no problem being called oriental. He would describe himself as being an American of oriental ancestry while he describes me as British of cacausian and south Asian ancestry.

Answer 4

I have been practicing an Oriental Art for many years...The art of Japanese Bonsai Sculpting....not offensive that I am aware of. Ask her if she appreciates, "Penjing"...(Chinese Bonsai) ...could be an ice breaker,tiger.

Answer 5

Oriental is a rug. Asian is a person.

Answer 6

it could be a type of furniture or a style of room with a oriental feel to them those sliding doors made with paper in the middle instead of glass or wood

Answer 7

"Oriental" simply means "eastern"; the western equivalent is "occidental."

Answer 8

I think the correct term is 'Asian' I could be wrong.

Answer 9

I shouldn't think so. It's just like saying "white" or "black", i suppose...
but if you feel otherwise, you should probablly stick with Aisian