Forever 21 Sells Controversial 'Oriental Girl' Necklaces (POLL)

Forever 21 is in hot water again, this time over one of its cheap accessories.

The "Oriental Girl" necklace, which Forever 21 is selling for the very Forever 21-ish price of $1.50, features a tiny charm in the shape of a young Asian girl with a white face and a dark bun; her features were stereotypical enough to rankle some of the blogosphere. Styleite noted:

"It's bad enough to sell merchandise that's offensive to a group of people you have no connection with, but it's a whole other level of insensitivity to sell something that pokes fun at the ethnicity you come from."

Fashionista spied the necklace in conjunction with the chain store's "Native American Girl" necklace, commenting:

"Apparently, Forever 21 thinks that people want to wear outdated, cultural stereotypes as necklaces."

Forever 21 has had their share of consumer complaints over "offensive" merchandise recently, most notably, their "I'm Allergic to Algebra" tee, which was marketed towards the company's usual young female demographic. Is the company on a fast track to losing customers if they keep making insensitive merchandise?

Well, maybe. But honestly, with this item, we're not quite sure why all the fuss. While we understand and sympathize with the post-colonial objections to the term "Oriental," the Chang family who owns F21 are Asian themselves. And as far as the necklace in question, the stereotypical Asian features displayed on the girl could have way more overtly offensive. She looks more like Olive Oyl from Popeye, no?

Check out the necklace below and decide for yourself in our poll:

Quick Poll

What do you think about Forever 21's "Oriental Girl" necklace?

It's fine! Everyone needs to chill out.

That is kind of offensive, actually.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[JumperPilot]

10:37 PM on 11/04/2011

I'm Asian and I am not offended by the term "Oriental" or by the cute necklace. I'd probably have bought it if I'd seen it in shops and worn it quite happily. What's the fuss and who exactly is doing the fussing?

[Kathleen Shimp]

06:35 PM on 11/03/2011

The girl is abstract enough that without the name, I might not have made the connection, or at least I'd have wondered if she was supposed to be a specific race/ethnicity but not been sure.
It is not surprising in the least that this is found at a company owned by an Asian family. Like it or not, not all cultures view the use of stereotypes the same way.

[ycr]

04:52 PM on 11/03/2011

I would buy that for my daughter. It reminds me of her and she is Puerto Rican. She is cute and tiny like the necklace. That is weird people would even consider that cute little necklace offensive.

[An Independent Woman]

11:35 AM on 11/03/2011

Why is she considered to be Asian? She looks sorta like me and I'm not Asian. Perhaps I should sue F21 for using my image for commercial gain :)

[Kate Proctor]

11:34 PM on 11/02/2011

I'm South Korean and I don't find the necklace itself offensive. What I do find offensive is how forever21 named the necklace. They could find a different description to use other than oriental. What most people don't realize is that the word oriental was and is still used as a racial slur and can be quite hurt-ful (I would know first hand). In asian cultures and to me that would is offensive.

Cowgirldiane- Gwen Stafanis perfume bottles weren't labeled as an asian racial slur.

[KaLaPa111]

12:49 AM on 11/03/2011

I honestly had no idea that the term "oriental" was considered a slur in Asian cultures. Definitely good to know. Thanks for the heads up! :)

And yes I agree, the necklace itself is fine but perhaps they could have called it something else.

[JScott]

01:31 PM on 11/02/2011

Asian, well barely just like the post sez looks like Olive Oyl with a bit of 'Nancy' mixed in and a touch of those Russian nesting dolls (which actually originated in Japan)-might be the 'asian' angle there, and a bit of Dora the Explorer.

[brokenleoheart]

12:15 PM on 11/02/2011

i'm asian, and to be honest it is kinda offensive.
1. oriental is an offensive word used onto asian people, as in the old times it really means some THING that is of the orient world. Therefore calling a girl oriental is really objectifying her, making a person into some kind of property.

2. yes OF COURSE our eyes are so freaking tiny and they are practically 2 dots. NOT.

it's a seemingly innocent necklace, but alot of clothinglines make this into some kind of downward slope. i mean look at abercrombie & fitch, i'm glad they are finally getting a ton of S*** from people and pulling their racist clothes off the shelf.

[Dakotadem]

11:11 AM on 11/02/2011

I thought it was Lucy from Peanuts.

[DannyGee]

11:01 AM on 11/02/2011

Welcome to the United States of the Offended

[ycr]

04:57 PM on 11/03/2011

So true. Before you know it we are going to have re-education camps in this country. If you disagree with anything because of religious beliefs or cultural beliefs you will be expelled from school or put in jail. It is happening in other countries. We are quickly heading in that direction. The government will first start persecuting the churches for their beliefs.

[MexiChick67]

01:41 AM on 11/02/2011

Too much about nothing.

[Idiotesque]

01:17 AM on 11/02/2011

Slow day news + fake outrage = good bait for clicks

[Rhonnybay]

08:38 PM on 11/01/2011

I thought it was a Hello Kitty with afro puffs. :/ Lawd.

[BigWillyG]

08:05 PM on 11/01/2011

Looks more like Olive Oil from Poppy to me.

[Wesley Chu]

07:58 PM on 11/01/2011

I would be the first to say that this doll isn't a big deal. Buns,tiny eyes, minor stereotype. Here's my issue though. Ms. Byrd, who says that it's completely fine to show a white figurine, has it wrong. There's a reason why minority organizations are promoted but all white organizations are frowned upon. You're the majority, you already have it your way. That's why the war on christmas is a joke because the majority of the population is christians. You are the status quo. You might not see racism sometimes, and I do admit this example is not a strong one to stand against, but just because you don't see it, doesn't mean others don't. You tell us to get over ourselves, well, getting over ourselves is something you have never had to deal with.

[Centrist 53]

10:15 AM on 11/02/2011

Nice point, and I applaud you for putting it so succinctly. However, the white folks do have to get over themselves, mostly in the 'your country is more diverse than your tiny little mind thought it was' department.

[Cowgirldiane]

06:49 PM on 11/01/2011

No one jumped on Gwen Steffani's asian girl fragrance bottles. So why now is Forever 21 offensive?

[Scobes]

11:53 AM on 11/02/2011

They did though - I remember her speaking in an interview about how upset she was that it became "a racial thing" and yeah, those are her words.