Talking Terminology... "China Doll"

Occasionally people make reference to our (future) daughter as our China Doll. They say things like “I bet you can’t wait to bring home your China Doll.” Or “She’ll be such a China Doll.” And I know people are well meaning when they say this, and I also know they have probably never considered that what they are saying can be offensive to Asian women (generally) and as such this not a term that is (generally) used in the China Adoption community.

Why is ‘China Doll’ such an offensive term? Historically the term China Doll was used to describe Asian prostitutes. The ‘China Doll’ stereotype insinuates that Asian women are hypersexual, submissive, exotic, feminine, and eager to please white males. According to author Sheridan Prasso, the China doll stereotype and other variations of this submissive stereotype exist in American movies: Geisha Girl/Lotus Flower/Servant/China Doll: Submissive, docile, obedient, reverential (including Asian men as effeminate, servile); Vixen/Sex Nymph: Sexy, coquettish, manipulative; tendency toward disloyalty or opportunism; Prostitute/Victim of Sex Trade/War/Oppression: Helpless, in need of assistance or rescue; good-natured at heart (from: www.answers.com/topic/stereotypes-of-asians).

Using the word ‘doll’ is also a term that objectifies women as an object instead of a human.

I personally don't take offence when people use this term, I know it is generally meant to be a cutesy kinda nickname - and given we haven't shared what our daughter's name will be with many people, sometimes I think they don't really know how to refer to her. But I also think putting this explanation 'out there' is important. As prospective adoptive parents of a child from another country and culture - I feel we have a responsibility to educate not only ourselves but people who will be in our daughter's life.