Terms to Avoid

News Watch, (a project of the Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism of the San Francisco State University Journalism Department) publishes style guide that includes words and phrases to avoid. Here is a list of words compiled by Emily from APC.

Asiatic—Avoid. A 19th century adjective typically used in "scientific" European treatises assuming the superiority of the white race. Implies enemy race. Instead use Asian, Asian Pacific American, Pacific Islander or Asian American.

China doll—Avoid. Reinforces stereotypes of Asian women as exotic and submissive sex objects. Use only in direct quotes.

Chinaman—Avoid. A racial slur often used against anyone of Asian ancestry.

Chinaman's chance—Avoid. Refers to having little or no chance of succeeding. Believed by some to have derived from the fate of Chinese laborers building the transcontinental railroad. They were subjected to extreme physical danger and died at a high rate from placing explosives on steep cliffs and working in deep tunnels. Others believe it derives from the lynchings and other racist attacks by white mobs against Chinese, beginning in the 1850s. Use only in direct quotes.

chink—Avoid. Racial slur referring to Chinese and Chinese Americans. Use only in direct quotes.

Confucian work ethic—Avoid. Stereotypical term referring to the tendency of some Asians to work hard and keep quiet. Evokes images of Asians as mindless hordes unable to think or act creatively.

Confucius say—Avoid. Stereotypical saying poking fun at Asian Americans as speaking in proverbs and not having original thoughts or actions.

exotic—Avoid when describing Asian, African, Latino, or American Indian cultures, unless also using for European and American culture.

Far East—Avoid. Denotes Asia, as viewed from London. Use Asia, East Asia or Southeast Asia.

gook—Avoid. Racial slur. A derogatory term for Asians, widely used by American GIs during the Korean War and again during the Vietnam War. Thought to be a corruption of "Hankook," or Korea.

Oriental—Avoid. Do not used to refer to people of Asian ancestry. Use "Asian" or "Asian American." Many Asian Americans liken "Oriental" to "negro." A vestige of British imperialism, the term, at minimum, is vague. In art, it may include countries such as China and Japan, but not Turkey. In rugs, it may mean India and China as well as Turkey. In food, it may mean China or Japan, but not India, Vietnam or the Philippines.

slant, slant-eye—Avoid. Racial slur. The stereotypical caricature of Asians with narrow, slanted slit eyes, with no pupils showing, was first used by white cartoonists in the 1800s to whip up anti-Asian hysteria. The caricature also is used to demean Asians as mindless horde.

yellow peril—Avoid. Derogatory term used to describe Asians as a great threat to Western civilization. The term gained appeal in the 1880s, and was used by some newspapers and politicians to whip up racism against Asian immigrants, specifically Japanese, who had become successful entrepreneurs in California agriculture and were portrayed as taking jobs from whites or were poised to invade the United States.