# Is the term "Indian" offensive? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 15, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565 "2010-03-15T18:27:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/81 "2010-03-17T15:21:46Z")
Does anyone know if members of First Nations/Native Canadians/Canadian Indians in Quebec are offended by the term _sauvages_? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/82 "2010-03-17T15:37:19Z")
If anyone gets worked up about “Indians”, just tell them it’s short for **Indi** genous Americ **ans**. I bet you could get a few people to believe it. > [@Rand Rover](#): > > Have you tried…okcupid? You’re not fooling me that easily - I do know that the plural of “octopus” is not “okcupids”. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/83 "2010-03-17T16:37:33Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > FWIW, I will mention that there is a cable channel up here in the frozen north whose official name is APTV, Aboriginal People’s TV. In the Olympics, I watched some curling on it and I saw a game broadcast in English, one in French, and one in Cree (I think) on this station. I think they use some other Indian (or aboriginal) languages as well, but not Inuktituk. FWIW, with knowledge of radio stations in Sask., Cree and Dene seem to be the common languages in use And in the hijack category, there’s a Canadian home furnishing chain named Jysk. Apparently it’s a profanity in Cree. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/84 "2010-03-17T16:53:53Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > And in the hijack category, there’s a Canadian home furnishing chain named Jysk. \ It’s Danish, meaning of or pertaining to [Jutland](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jutland). \ ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/85 "2010-03-17T21:41:45Z")
It seems that many American Indians don’t have a problem with it at all: [http://www.aimovement.org/](http://www.aimovement.org/) ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/86 "2010-03-17T21:52:58Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I refuse to use this, honestly. “From India” works just as well. Dots and feathers are both correct and incorrect characterizations of both cultures I feel. Either way, much too simplistic. > > I am not offended by the usage, btw. 🙂 Just don’t use it myself. I feel the same way as well. Not a fan of the dot/feather thing and don’t use it. Though since they did strip my college of it’s feather for being the Tribe, I suppose that’s now an un-PC thing to say as well. Doesn’t bother me, but I’m not a fan of it. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/87 "2010-03-17T21:58:02Z")
A lot of newer history books seem to be using “Amerindian.” Native American always seemed like a poor descriptor to me. You end up with sentences like “The Battle of Horseshoe bend was fought between the Americans and the Native Americans, although some Native Americans fought with the Americans against the Native Americans who were fighting the Americans.” I can’t speak for the Amerindian community, but I assume that Indian isn’t considered an offensive term for the same reason that Deutsche people don’t resent being called Germans. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/88 "2010-03-17T22:09:21Z")
[This school](http://www.haskell.edu/index.html) doesn’t seem to have a problem with the term “Indian”. It’s not only part of the school’s name, I believe it also the mascot. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/89 "2010-03-17T22:37:01Z")
Wow … I’m finding references where the term “Indian” is considered offensive. [http://theimpudentobserver.com/world-news/is-the-word-indian-offensive/](http://theimpudentobserver.com/world-news/is-the-word-indian-offensive/) > **[The Name "Indian" and Political Correctness](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-name-indian-and-polit_b_67593)** > > When some Indian journalists made it to the newsrooms of large and prestigious mainstream newspapers, they reacted to the word "Indian" as they did when they were in college. > **[Political Correctness: Indian vs. Native America](https://mondillo.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/political-correctness-indian-vs-native-america/)** > > 28 August 2008 Political correctness is always an issue and the question is where the line of too much is.  Some people think that has been crossed a long time ago.  Now my question involves the wo… [http://www.indianmascots.com/commonthemes/index.htm#Why\_is\_the\_term\_Indian\_offensive\_](http://www.indianmascots.com/commonthemes/index.htm#Why_is_the_term_Indian_offensive_) It’s also on a list of offensive words from the University of Wisconsin: [Universities of Wisconsin - Unlimited Opportunity](http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/conference/ftp08files/White/BarbaraWhite_Different%20Cultures%20and%20Languages.pdf) (yes, it’s a .pdf) > [@](#): > > Indian: American Indian preferred unless specifically referring to residents or natives of India. See “American Indian.” The word “illegal alien” is also now considered offensive. > [@](#): > > Illegal Alien: Often used to refer to Mexicans and Latin Americans believed to be in the United States without visas; the preferred term is undocumented worker or undocumented resident. And … > [@](#): > > Project: As in public housing project, has come to denote race. Use public housing development or subsidized > housing. My favorite from the list: > [@](#): > > Woman: The preferred term for a female adult. Girl is appropriate for those 17 years old and under. Avoid gal and lady. Also avoid derogatory terms for women, such as skirt, broad, chick, bimbo, bumbo, babe, ball and chain, little woman, featherhead, and feather brain. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/90 "2010-03-17T23:02:39Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > My favorite from the list: > > > [@](#): > > > > Woman: The preferred term for a female adult. Girl is appropriate for those 17 years old and under. Avoid gal and lady. Also avoid derogatory terms for women, such as skirt, broad, chick, bimbo, bumbo, babe, ball and chain, little woman, featherhead, and feather brain. Okay, we can’t use “featherhead” for women, but it’s still okay for American Indians, right? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/91 "2010-03-17T23:58:33Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Woman: The preferred term for a female adult. Girl is appropriate for those 17 years old and under. Avoid gal and lady. Also avoid derogatory terms for women, such as skirt, broad, chick, bimbo, bumbo, babe, ball and chain, little woman, featherhead, and feather brain. Bumbo? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/92 "2010-03-18T00:00:13Z")
At least dame and toots are still acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/93 "2010-03-18T00:26:16Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > It’s also on a list of offensive words from the University of Wisconsin: [Universities of Wisconsin - Unlimited Opportunity](http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/conference/ftp08files/White/BarbaraWhite_Different%20Cultures%20and%20Languages.pdf) (yes, it’s a .pdf) > > > [@](#): > > > > Indian: American Indian preferred unless specifically referring to residents or natives of India. See “American Indian.” It sounds like the issue there is not that the word “Indian” is offensive (if “American Indian” is okay then “Indian” on its own can’t be that bad), but rather that it causes confusion. Madison at least does have a sizable Indian-from-India population. Please also note that the UW-Extension is not a university, it provides educational programs for the general public. “The University of Wisconsin” would refer to either my alma mater, the [University of Wisconsin-Madison](http://www.wisc.edu), or to the [statewide university system](http://www.wisconsin.edu/about/). This PDF has nothing to do with instruction or policies at Wisconsin universities. I can’t find that it is linked to from anywhere on the UW-Extension website either – even running a search doesn’t produce it. I’m guessing this is an orphan file leftover from some diversity seminar. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/94 "2010-03-18T01:20:23Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > At least dame and toots are still acceptable. Saaaaaay there sonny boy, don’t forget “hussy”, “dish”, “doillybird”, “roundheels” and “dora” there! ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/95 "2010-03-18T09:55:18Z")
Well, Hmm… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/96 "2010-03-18T09:59:37Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Saaaaaay there sonny boy, don’t forget “hussy”, “dish”, “doillybird”, “roundheels” and “dora” there! What’s the official word on “sugartits”? ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/97 "2010-03-18T20:46:51Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > What’s the official word on “sugartits”? Still acceptable, from what I learned the last time I shared a bottle of scotch with the boys in HR. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/98 "2010-03-18T21:00:32Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > It’s also on a list of offensive words from the University of Wisconsin: [Universities of Wisconsin - Unlimited Opportunity](http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/conference/ftp08files/White/BarbaraWhite_Different%20Cultures%20and%20Languages.pdf) (yes, it’s a .pdf) That list is pure comedy gold. > [@](#): > > **Banana** : > An offensive term referring to Asian-Americans who allegedly have abandoned their culture. Objectionable because no person or group can appropriately attach judgmental terms to others. Just as objectionable: Coconut for Mexican-Americans and Oreo for black Americans. I’ve never heard this one, and I don’t get it. > [@](#): > > **Beefcake:** > Objectionable when referring to male physical attractiveness. Presumably inoffensive when used to refer to cakes made of beef. > [@](#): > > **Bisexual:** > Term describing a person sexually attracted to members of both sexes. Use carefully and only when pertinent. “Dude, that Volkswagen is _totally_ bisexual.” “No it isn’t! Sensitivity training for you!” > [@](#): > > **Buxom:** > Offensive reference to a woman’s chest. Do not use. See “Woman.” The PC term is mammarically gifted. Better yet, pretend boobies don’t exist. Also, don’t call them boobies. > [@](#): > > **Caucasian:** > Defines a race of people rather than a specific ethnic group or nationality. For instance, Mexican-Americans are Caucasian. Always capitalized. Well, unless they’re Indian. Or black. Or Mestizo. > [@](#): > > **Fragile:** > Adjective describing a woman’s physical attributes. Use carefully when pertinent. Alright, this is getting ridiculous. What the fuck do they smoke at the U of W? ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/99 "2010-03-18T21:27:38Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’ve never heard this one, and I don’t get it. Yellow on the outside, white on the inside. See also: Twinkie, which is the variant I’m familiar with for Asians. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565/100 "2010-03-19T08:35:19Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Alright, this is getting ridiculous. What the fuck do they smoke at the U of W? If I hear that a woman is fragile, I think she has osteoporosis or something. And they don’t really define it otherwise, since they skirt around describing the offensive definition. Is it maybe referring to the stereotypical difference in physical strength? Or worse, some idea that women are more emotional so you can be more harsh to men? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-indian-offensive/532565.md?page=6)