Is the word "Oriental" derogatory?

Question

And if so, what is the history of the word? Why/how is it an offensive term?

Answer 1

In the United States, the word "Oriental" is not considered politically correct.

Frankly, I don't think it is any more derogatory than calling a French person a European.

While there are more specific words to apply to Asians -- Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, it is not derogatory in and of itself. Any word can be derogatory depending on the context in which it is placed.

Several sources will tell you that it is offensive because in academia "Orientalism" is associated with the European colonial attitude toward the Ottoman East.

Answer 2

No, it simply means from the east

Most people use Asian though, or specifically the nationalities (i.e. Chinese, Korean, etc.)

Answer 3

The origin of oriental is "rising" as the sun does - in the East. Occidental means "setting or falling" as the sun does - in the West.
It may be considered derogatory; but so is the word "steak" to a vegetarian.

Answer 4

It wasn't a derogatory term. Asians were Oriental and non-Asians were Occidential. The far east was called the Orient. It became socially incorrect about 30 years ago and was replaced with Asian or Asian American.

Answer 5

It is not meant to be derogatory, only descriptive, in an old-fashioned way. So consider the generational & regional source. "We three kings of Orient are....". Does that ring a bell?

Answer 6

Oriental refers to an object. When you are talking about/ refering to a person, use the word "Asian"

Answer 7

To the best of my knowledge, no it isn't derogatory, any more than White (or Caucasian), Black or (African American), or Hispanic