Slog
News & ArtsMonday, December 29, 2008
Life Low-Tech Slog Poll Time!
Posted by Erica C. Barnett on Mon, Dec 29, 2008 at 1:59 PM
I know these pajamas, manufactured of 100% cotton by HUE, are comfy... my question is, are they racist? Or am I racist for even thinking that? (The official name of these pajama bottoms, by the way, is "geisha party pajama pant." Geisha party!)
Let me know in the comments!
(The tech boys are away today, and if I attempted to do an actual Slog poll I'd break the Internet. Sorry!).
4
NO. but why is that. if i had a bucked toothed and black faced black man and called them ghetto sweats, that would be racist. If it is drunk irish men, not racist. drunk indians, racist. WTF
5
Nope, especially if you're aware of the potential racist connotations and reflect on them, occasionally, while eating your cereal.
8
Does the comfiness value of the pajamas have anything to do with the racist/not racist value of the pajamas? Can something be racist and comfy at the same time?
10
@8 Sure, institutionalized racism was very comfy in this country for a long time (unless you were black)
11
Yes, but only disappointingly racist, not offensively or outrageously racist. It's not like asian women aren't fetishized enough in America. Just don't wear them around asian people, because nobody else will care or notice.
13
Do you even know how many cars those fucking things have been in by the time your racist sexist ass is typing bullshit screeds in them?
14
The pajamas are demeaning to pajama-wearers.
But really, shouldn't anyone who wears pajamas be demeaned? I think so. Sleep in the nude, you losers!
But really, shouldn't anyone who wears pajamas be demeaned? I think so. Sleep in the nude, you losers!
15
It's hard to see in the picture, but do the little dancing people have slanted eyes? If so: racist. If not: not racist. That is the deciding factor.
Also, we're using the word "racist" wrong here. Pants, even comfy ones, cannot feel fearful or antagonistic against anyone from any race. Artwork, though, can be the result of racism. I do not believe that to be the case here.
Remember, cultural insensitivity and racism are not the same thing.
17
I just don't think depicting people, whatever the race, is rascist. I do think the deciding factor should be if it's a demeaning depiction. Like those little black lawn jockeys. I'm Italian, so a depiction of the Italian Chef doesn't strike me as demeaning. Italian mobsters are demeaning, but they make for great TeeVee!
21
if you have to ask, your conscience already knows the answer. does the pattern on that cloth contribute to the circulation of stereotypical images that objectify asian cultures and people? yes, but maybe not if you don't wear them outside the house (ha ha?). if you're really wondering why you feel bad about it, read _orientalism_ by edward said to get the historical context.
22
That sounds like a modified version of the "some of my best friends are ____ and they don't mind when I make those jokes" argument.
Thus...no.
Thus...no.
23
Nothing says traditional Japanese "geisha party" quite like caricatures of Chinese people.
Do they come in a mens XL tall???
Do they come in a mens XL tall???
24
Oh yeah, and a 'geisha party' is one in which between one and five female performers/sex slaves entertain a large group of men. Fun times.
25
I JUST posted a comment on the spoon thread above - #28
I have some geisha - adorned chopsticks that everyone I've served sushi to thinks are adorable. So? Are we big fat jerks? Let me have it.
I have some geisha - adorned chopsticks that everyone I've served sushi to thinks are adorable. So? Are we big fat jerks? Let me have it.
26
More important than whether these are racist pants is the looming question of do you plan on wearing these pants when others might see you? Becuase you really ought not wear anything that can be describe as these pants were, with the exception of cotton (comfy is not exceptable)
This country is great because we have the right to wear attrocious slumber/lounge wear in public, yet is greater when this right is waved. So please, for the good of your country, countrymen and god; DO NOT WEAR LOUNGE CLOTHES IN PUBLIC! It flatters nothing but one's ideas that appearances don't matter, which has been proven time and again that looks do infact matter and there is no getting away from this cold truth.
p.s.
The pajama pants are really more un-informed/inacurate than racist. I wouldn't call the teenagers in this country who draw bad anime/manga racist, just in bad taste with unedgecated enthusiasm. So really it just boils down to this: do you enjoy wearing them for non-racist reasons/motives?
This country is great because we have the right to wear attrocious slumber/lounge wear in public, yet is greater when this right is waved. So please, for the good of your country, countrymen and god; DO NOT WEAR LOUNGE CLOTHES IN PUBLIC! It flatters nothing but one's ideas that appearances don't matter, which has been proven time and again that looks do infact matter and there is no getting away from this cold truth.
p.s.
The pajama pants are really more un-informed/inacurate than racist. I wouldn't call the teenagers in this country who draw bad anime/manga racist, just in bad taste with unedgecated enthusiasm. So really it just boils down to this: do you enjoy wearing them for non-racist reasons/motives?
29
Yall Stranger writers have not posted enough hand-wringing white-guilt posts this week. Post at least ten more posts about your white-guilty conscience wondering if something is "racist" by the end of the week or you are a RACIST!
Oh yeah, in the time you read this, a whole bunch of black men murdered a whole bunch of other black men in the USA. 93% of all blacks murdered in the USA are murdered by other blacks.
Oh yeah, in the time you read this, a whole bunch of black men murdered a whole bunch of other black men in the USA. 93% of all blacks murdered in the USA are murdered by other blacks.
31
I'm Asian (Japanese-American). I wouldn't really call the pants racist, but they irritate me. Kavu makes a hat that also pisses me off in a way that is profound and internal and cannot be explained:
http://www.backcountry.com/store/KAV0069…
http://www.backcountry.com/store/KAV0069…
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