Eurasian vs hapa

[0]

Isn't Eurasian more exclusionary though since it means specifically of european and asian descent, whereas hapa has come to mean half asian? Blasians, native americans and any non-euro descent is automatically left out regardless of their asian background.

[i move the stars for no one]

klacoste said:

Which term do you prefer to describe yourself?

I never really liked the term "hapa". Most people have never heard of it, apparently native Hawaiians don't like widespread usage of the term, and it seems to be a "fad" mainly confined to California/Hawaii-dwelling Americans. (check out realhapas.com/).

The term "Eurasian" seems to be more culturally-neutral, and most people understand what it means, even if they've never been introduced to mixed folk before.

So yep.

i've always felt that the people at realhapas.com had their panties in a bunch.as a mixed Polynesian with roots in Hawaii,i've heard the term thrown around loosely regarding anyone of mixed race by Polynesians of all stripes and Hawaiians (by residence.)my father,who's from Samoa,even used it to describe a kid who was Mulatto.
i think Hawaiians who complain about the word beng appropriated from their culture are being flat out clannish and small-minded.besides,while i'm not saying that they don't care deeply about their culture and try to preserve it,they sell out a caricature of it for tourism dollars,so in my opinion they have nothing to say.While long ago when mixed-race people were less common hapa was probably commonly understood to mean a person of half-hawaiian heritage,the term has evolved and it's really stupid to fail to accept that.

[avax]

I get looked at like I'm a freak (moreso than usual) if I say eurasian if talking to californians so for conversational purposes I use hapa. I personally dislike the word. I have no roots from hawaii (that I know of), have no connection to the word (in upbringing) therefore it feels as inaccurate as it is unwieldy.

That's interesting you feel that way, Jun. It just strikes me as bizarre if someone were to 'internationalize' the word peranakan and call ALL mixed people peranakan or after some nonya rainbow cake. I suppose if it's something done over time and as widespread as hapa has become, then that's just the way it rolls. But I'd probably get a chucklet out of it cause it sounds so funny. Eurasian as hapa? Blasian as peranakan? "welcome, brodaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Ok, not really. I love you too.

[0]

klacoste said:

^ There are quite a few EA sub-categories - Amerasian, Australasian, mestizo, luk kreung etc.

Yeah it just seems to me that the unifying factor is the Asian background so once "euro" is thrown in it creates barriers, intentionally or not. And then what constitutes asian becomes the issue since we all know it really means east asian/not caucasian asian.

I have another sort of off topic question - what do you Aussies call a half or quarter aborigine?

[daisypukes]

said:

Isn't Eurasian more exclusionary though since it means specifically of european and asian descent, whereas hapa has come to mean half asian? Blasians, native americans and any non-euro descent is automatically left out regardless of their asian background.

That's kind of the point of racial categorization, separating yourself into as specific a group as you can. I dunno if you noticed this...but Blasians are specifically black and Asian. They're leaving us out too. ;D

Anyway, I prefer EA over hapa. The word hapa just sounds stupid to me, TBH. Plus there are a lot of Hawaiians who are very hostile to EAs using that term in reference to themselves. And honestly, they can have the word, I never liked it.

[ConceptDesign]

Hapa sounds moronic.

[LaFace]

I prefer Eurasian or Mixed.

I've never heard of the term 'Hapa' before. It really isn't used in Australian conversation.

[halfbreed]

I'm still unsure of what 'hapa' means.. so, naturally, I don't use it.
I only refer to myself as 'Eurasian' - not 'mixed' or 'halfie' bleh

[Altan]

Eurasian is what you are if your a half Caucasian and Asian. "Hapa," was a thing ten years ago when we were defining ourselves and "Hawaii," was the closest thing. Times and boundaries and philosophy have changed and so have demographics.

I was doing some web research and I am so "proud," that my Eurasian stock has affected the Far East to the Middle East to Western Europe! Basically don't be afraid! You have predecssors! In the dozens or "HUN" reds! before yourself!

[LaFace]

avsar said:

Eurasian is what you are if your a half Caucasian and Asian.

^Eurasian doesn't necessarily entail Caucasian because there are Latin countries in Europe

[marshmallow]

their not latin...no one really uses that word in europe,but they're mediterranean and they're still caucasion

[thea]

You're funny Curlytop! I wonder what the heck it was like for an American solider of Asian ancestry to be stationed in those countries. I agree with your statement about not liking the word Amerasian. I tend to refer to my kids as Eurasians, since I am of Asian ancestry and my husband immigrated from Ireland. My kids, like myself were born in the U.S. so therefore they are Americans. There are times when other Asians in particular Filipinos who view my children as Americans based on the fact and solely because my husband is "white". Besides Amerasian to me has a negative connotation.

[daisypukes]

"Amerasian" has very negative connotations to me as well. You don't combine a nationality with a continent, it's just uneven. Continent with continent, I say. Besides which, it definitely reeks of "white American GI + his Asian conquest = you." Ewww.

[catgirl]

loprida said:

their not latin...no one really uses that word in europe,but they're mediterranean and they're still caucasion

Some Indians are also caucasian, and I heard arabs are called caucasian too. Read it in a book about humans...

[catgirl]

If there are amerasians there are ameuropeans ;D