I was reading a terrible, terrible book last night that I abandoned. But before I stopped reading it, the author described someone who was Asian as an “exotic beauty.” And then I threw the book on the wall and stomped on it and vowed to never, ever read again.
No, not really, because I was reading on my kindle, and I love that sucker.
But I did come up with the rant that you are about to read on the improper use of the word “exotic” by Caucasian authors. Ready? Set? GO.
Here is a map of the world as authors who use the word “exotic” see it:
And here is a map of the world as would appear by population density:
Image via The Telegraph
Do you see how the non-exotic lands are a little less populated? Yeah? Do you see how, if authors are going by the definition of exotic as, “outlandish, strange, or foreign,” that by sheer NUMBER, the thing that would be strange would be…white skin?
And YES. I realize this is about perspective, and to this author’s character, an Asian woman is “strange” or “foreign” to her. Except that this particular character lives in Seattle, where 13.6% of the population is Asian (by the statistics provided here by the City of Seattle). That’s more than 1 in 10 people. If I saw a beagle once for every ten people on the street, I would not call beagles “an exotic animal.” I would call them pretty damn normal.
So, dear author, I’M NOT AN EXOTIC BEAUTY OR ANIMAL. I am more normal than YOU in most of the world. WAY MORE NORMAL. And here? I’m as exotic as a beagle.
You know, I think the last time I described someone as “exotic,” I was 17. Applying it to people sounds at best archaic, and, really, I’m being generous there. Because even something like “exotic food” is just food to a whole, whole lot of people, so what I’d really be saying is, “This is new to me.” So I just say things are new to me. Which 1 in 10 would not be, as you point out.
Now that I see it in type, I also like “Exotic as a Beagle” as a blog name.
Exotic can just mean striking and beautiful. It doesn’t have to mean foreign. You had better apologize to that author! Grammy
But she doesn’t describe ANY OTHER women in that book as “exotic.” Only that woman. Why is that? Words have an intention.
I am totally with you on this. Spike enjoyed your use of beagles to illustrate your point, too. It’s just bad, lazy writing.
I do truly love this post.
Which book was it?
Do you know what’s exotic to me? Persimmons. This author clearly doesn’t understand the true subtext of the word.
True. Can’t remember coming cross Caucasian women being called exotic beauties. Latino, Asian, African, yes all the time. I don’t think its the white skin – some Asian women have whiter skin than most people I’ve seen here. Its the geography as you rightly point out. Er……come to think of it, shouldn’t it be the Caucasian ladies fuming about this? Just wondering…….
Amen.
another word i have a distaste for? FOREIGN. what the heck does that mean nowadays anyway?
I was once described as exotic. I asked why they chose that word. “Because your eyes are slanty.”
Oh. Okay.
(I was teased horribly for my eye shape all through school, as was my brother. WASPS around here don’t look like we do. Weird.)
I also agree with cadiz on the word foreign, especially when those who are actively adopting and/or have already adopted use it as “foreign adoption.” DUMB.
Yes. Extremely annoying that white women such as myself are described as “fair”. I mean seriously! I tan a little. What the heck are authors implying?!?! It’s soooo racist and unfair.
And can they stop saying “almond shaped eyes”? Please?
Exotic as a beagle! Love it. And sooooo true. Maybe you should print this out and send it to the author, along with a thesaurus.