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    Forever 21 sells offensive “Oriental Girl” necklace

    By Joanna Douglas | Shine from Yahoo! Canada – Wed, 2 Nov, 2011 3:57 PM EDT
    Forever 21 calls this their "Oriental Girl necklace." Photo courtesy of Forever 21Forever 21 calls this their "Oriental Girl necklace." Photo courtesy of Forever 21

    Just a few weeks ago Urban Outfitters came under fire for their "Navajo" collection and now Forever 21 has joined them in releasing a culturally offensive product. Just as you should not refer to a Native American-inspired print as "Navajo" we take serious issue with Forever 21 naming an Asian-inspired character on a pendant "Oriental Girl." Yes, you read that right. The "Oriental Girl necklace" is currently retailing for $1.50. Thanks to Fashionista for tipping us off.

    See more: Urban Outfitters blasted for "culturally offensive" items


    It seems odd and offensive to sell a cultural stereotype like a geisha-styled girl on a pendant in the first place, but even if Forever 21 was hoping to celebrate the culture, it's hard to see past their use of the incredibly outdated term "Oriental." Lumping all Asian people into an archaic, offensive label like that is just plain wrong. And it's particularly surprising seeing as Forever 21 is owned by a Korean American family. Why would they support—and profit on—an Asian stereotype?

    See more: Controversial t-shirt hits the racks


    The ladies at Fashionista also stumbled on another equally insensitive necklace in Forever 21 depicting a stereotypical Native American girl, braids, hide, and all. They took a photo of the pendants (below), but we can't seem to find that one on their website.
    A Native American-inspired necklace from Forever 21. Photo courtesy of FashionistaA Native American-inspired necklace from Forever 21. Photo courtesy of Fashionista

    We're hoping this negative attention will not only make Forever 21 stop selling the offensive jewelry but perhaps raise awareness in the fashion industry to stop capitalizing on hurtful cultural stereotypes. It's entirely possible and even likely that the Chang family, who owns Forever 21, did not  see or approve of these pendants before they arrived on shelves, but we're truly surprised that not one person in the retail company questioned their design during production. Let's stop reducing a race of people to a $1.50 necklace with offensive name. Please.
     
     
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    1,030 comments

    • ILoveZombies
      ILoveZombies  •  1 month 21 days ago
      Are you people stupid? If you know nothing about the history of the context in which "Oriental" was used then kindly...stfu.

      And the same with those "I'm Asian and I'm not offended". If you said so then it must be true right? Who are you? Representatives of all Asians? "Hey white people look I'm an Asian and I assure you that this is in no shape or form offensive, so yea, those Asians be hatin'. Oh by the way I'm just likely a ignorant dipshit jumping on the 'Not Offended' bandwagon cuz it's cool! I mean, look at all the thumps up I got from white people!"
    • netkade
      netkade  •  Cranbrook, British Columbia  •  4 months ago
      WOW........this is getting RIDICULOUS!! I agree with the Irish fella... where does this foolishness stop.... for crying out loud there are way more important issues to be writting about people.....
    • Chuck
      Chuck  •  St Catharines, Ontario  •  4 months ago
      I think we keep getting more and more upset about less and less important things!! Calm down!
    • Kassie N
      Kassie N  •  Toronto, Ontario  •  4 months ago
      Oriental is a word that is used to describe rugs. It is not appropriate that a corporation would designate such a word to an entire continent of females.
      • Chuck
        Chuck 4 months ago
        The word isn't just used on females-maybe you didn't know there are oriental males too!!!!!!
    • Willali
      Willali  •  4 months ago
      i think the comments below say it all!
    • Bang! Pow! Boom!
      Bang! Pow! Boom!  •  Brantford, Ontario  •  4 months ago
      Mr. Noodles makes 'Oriental' flavour noodle soup packs. Is he a racist? Should I be offended by my dinner?
    • h
      h  •  6 months ago
      I'm asian and I'm not offended
      • Kojak
        Kojak 6 months ago
        Hi, sorry but the brownish kind or the "oriental" kind? ANd honestly I'm not trying to offend just make a point. Asia is a pretty big land mass. It's like saying, "I'm North American."
      • ta_
        ta_ 6 months ago
        Does it matter what type of asian you weirdo ? sheesh..
      • Kojak
        Kojak 6 months ago
        Hey Ta_, I was trying to make a point. Pakistani's and East Indians and Russians are also all Asian.....get it?
    • Colleen
      Colleen  •  6 months ago
      I'm offended by the article. I am a Canadian of Irish desent. Should I become offend every St Patrick's Day when everyone wears green drinks beer and yells out "Kiss me I'm Irish"? I think both necklaces are cute. I'd be more concerned if the products came from sweatshops or were made with toxic chemicals
      • Wes6200
        Wes6200 6 months ago
        shhhhh...now somebody is going to tell you that you should be offended by the grreen beer....and the campaign will start with a poster of uu holding a grreen beer, and saying " this shite is note whoo I am" . I love the irish, I only wish I could talk like em. ))
      • Owen
        Owen 6 months ago
        So you're not offended by the "randomly violent drunk" stereotype that's attached to the Irish? Because you seem to have forgotten that.
    • Ray "Mr.Li"
      Ray "Mr.Li"  •  6 months ago
      I live in China and haven't met anyone who expressed disgust at the term oriental, in fact Nanjing has an "Oriental Department Store". It's people in western countries who decide these things are offensive and only they think so. The jewelry was meant to look like a girl from a certain region of the world and has no specified nationality, there's nothing wrong with it.
      • My Opinion
        My Opinion 6 months ago
        Thank You for bringing some Eastern Civilization views to the political correctness crusade in western countires. I really wish this was the number 1 post under the most popular and most read so others could see things from another perspective than our own western civilization.

        I have two more question if you read this... What is the word in Chinese that means a white/caucasion person? And is the translation into English exactly?
      • ivan
        ivan 6 months ago
        @My opinion: I am answer that. Literally we can say "a white person", or "westerner", or "foreigner" when not specifying whether this person it white or not.
      • Sophia
        Sophia 6 months ago
        Amen! My mom is from Hong Kong, and always refers to herself as Oriental...I never hear her say Asian! Sometimes I have to censor myself when I'm around White people, as so many of them are offended by the word "Oriental." But, really, don't I have the right to be called what I wish to be called? I don't need a White person to dictate to me what I should be called. It's ironic that this group of do-gooders want to protect us and empower us by changing the name we are called. But, in the process they shut their ears to our contribution to the dialogue. We can make our own decisons!
    • ME123
      ME123  •  6 months ago
      How is the oriental girl necklace offensive? I'm Chinese and I think that it's cute. WTF is up with people nowadays calling everything offensive or racist?
    • lbladez
      lbladez  •  6 months ago
      if this necklace is being sold in China, would it be offensive? if your answer is No, then
      .. are we creating our own prejudices?
      • Aaron Bright
        Aaron Bright 6 months ago
        You got it all right except there is no we. Its the writer and maybe a couple of other moonbats.
      • yummymugofchai
        yummymugofchai 6 months ago
        The irony is, it's probably MADE in China.
      • Kimberley
        Kimberley 6 months ago
        you are right about that. this small minded drivel shouldn't be published.
    • Marc
      Marc  •  6 months ago
      All hogwash .... making a tempest in a teacup and the media is just grasping at straws for new stories. IGNORE IT
    • N.M.
      N.M.  •  6 months ago
      I am Asian. Someone please tell me what's so offensive about this pendant? In fact, I am thinking of getting one.
    • Joe
      Joe  •  6 months ago
      Yes get a life. If you are offended, dont buy it, dont even glance at it for pete's sake. Oh chit boo who, I just offended all the Peter's out there.You all are a bunch of whining idiots with nothing better to do or say.
    • snagglepuss
      snagglepuss  •  6 months ago
      OMG...the horror of it all...the horror!!
    • Jack W
      Jack W  •  6 months ago
      There is nothing wrong about an oriental girl... It's just a geographic and cultural term.... Guys get a life... and stop whinning...
    • mathieu
      mathieu  •  6 months ago
      You people make it difficult, even impossible, to live and do anything without "offending" anyone. This political correctness is killing all creative initiative, and stiffling any real debate. Nobody can sell, say or do anything without some over sensitive sissy crying that it offends them. Oh, sorry, I said "sissy". Does this offend anyone out there?

      Farewell freedom of speech, it's been good knowing you...
    • from
      from  •  6 months ago
      Oriental means that it's from the east of the map, nothing more. What I find offensive is sensationalistic "journalism" trying to indoctrinate a false sense of political correctness. It is ridiculous that we should stop using words that have no derogatory connotations because people care more about looking "good and proper" than the actual meaning of those words. Political correctness is the idea that you can pick up a turd from the clean end (think about it).
    • jim
      jim  •  6 months ago
      I think the "people" who are offended by this necklace must be easily offended...
    • Roy
      Roy  •  6 months ago
      WTF!!!! What is wrong with people these days!!! Offended by a "oriental" girl necklace, Forget about it! What are we gonna call it then? "non-caucasian necklace" HAHAHAHA!!!! Somebody fire Joanna "over sensitive" Douglas!
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