IS THIS RACIST?

I had a conversation about Asian food earlier in a weight loss chat room.
A woman made an observation that many Asian women seem to stay very slim even on a high carb, often greasy diet.
I suggested that genetically, many Asians are naturally smaller framed, and that maybe they are better at metabolising the diet because through time they have become accustomed to it. This already had several people in the chat crying 'racist'.

Trying to explain myself, I was hoping to point out that different populations genuinely do process food differently depending on their genetic make-up. For example, that many people of Asian descent have trouble metabolising alcohol. My boyfriend for example is Korean and gets what he calls, 'the Asian glow' - he just can't break down the enzymes fast enough and it leaves him totally drunk and red faced after a single drink. That REALLY got people riled up - I don't know how many people called me a racist *****.

I guess I was surprised because nothing I said was derogatory, or suggested Asian people are less because they are different, and I certainly didn't mean to cause trouble. The truth of the matter is that even though we are all equal, the truth is we ARE different - it's not a bad thing, but it seems making that observation has people upset. The reaction surprised me. I'm genuinely sorry if anyone does find this rude or ignorant, and I guess that's why I'm posting - was I racist?

You were not being racist. I think what people were picking up, and confusing for racism was your generalisations. But since the generalisations weren't of a negative stereotype, and in context to an observation. I can't see how they were offensive. I think in general there is a lot of ignorance abound these days regarding issues of race, that any comment can and will be used against you. This doesn't help race relations. I have white colleagues who deliberately Feign faux outrage when observations of race are discussed, no matter the context. This does more harm than good. I believe it stems from resentment and ignorance. How many times have you heard "we'll if 'they' can say it/make jokes about race, then why can't we?". My answer is that you can, but context is key.

Racist, no.

Stereotypical, yes!

You're not racist but they are idiots.

My sister goes red when she drinks alcoholic drinks. So, does that make me racist?

Also, you get fat and skinny orientals just as you get the likes of Mike Chang.

It doesn't make you racist, and I don't think it makes her Asian either. Lol

:laugh: I wasn't actually thinking of it from a logic perspective: "if you go red in the face from booze, does that make you asian?"

She IS Chinese. I was playing on the idea that because I (Chinese) state that a Chinese person goes red when they drink alcoholic drinks, then I must clearly be a racist, too!

You were not being racist. I think what people were picking up, and confusing for racism was your generalisations. But since the generalisations weren't of a negative stereotype, and in context to an observation. I can't see how they were offensive. I think in general there is a lot of ignorance abound these days regarding issues of race, that any comment can and will be used against you. This doesn't help race relations. I have white colleagues who deliberately Feign faux outrage when observations of race are discussed, no matter the context. This does more harm than good. I believe it stems from resentment and ignorance. How many times have you heard "we'll if 'they' can say it/make jokes about race, then why can't we?". My answer is that you can, but context is key.

Well one way in which I could see why this comment could be seen as "negative" is that Asian women can feel under a lot of pressure from people who have such beliefs, who tell them "they're naturally skinny", when in fact they have to struggle maintaining their weights as well. It creates false expectations that can affect their self-esteem, or at least frustrate them.

Clutching at straws much?

You were not being racist. I think what people were picking up, and confusing for racism was your generalisations. But since the generalisations weren't of a negative stereotype, and in context to an observation. I can't see how they were offensive. I think in general there is a lot of ignorance abound these days regarding issues of race, that any comment can and will be used against you. This doesn't help race relations. I have white colleagues who deliberately Feign faux outrage when observations of race are discussed, no matter the context. This does more harm than good. I believe it stems from resentment and ignorance. How many times have you heard "we'll if 'they' can say it/make jokes about race, then why can't we?". My answer is that you can, but context is key.

Well one way in which I could see why this comment could be seen as "negative" is that Asian women can feel under a lot of pressure from people who have such beliefs, who tell them "they're naturally skinny", when in fact they have to struggle maintaining their weights as well. It creates false expectations that can affect their self-esteem, or at least frustrate them.

Clutching at straws much?

Silly me for empathizing. I'm pretty sure if you lived among them you wouldn't feel it's a "stretch":)