question about ethnicity

so my girlfriend and I are taking an anthropology course. its about world cultures. the other day we were talking about the difference between race and ethnicity. When class was over we were talking and my girlfriend started to wonder what she was (ethnicity wise). Her mom is complete Filipino and her dad is white. She says she is Filipino and white, but then we started discussing whether she was Asian or Islander...Even she doesn't know.

Any thoughts out there as to whether Filipinos are considered more Islander of Asian??

Hmm, a differet thread. :lol: I have taken anthropology and I could not answer that for the life of me. I would say your best bet is to just ask your anthropology teacher.

PS: Good luck with anthro, my teacher was hard as shit.

She's asian, or half asian.
There are several islands that are located within the boundaries of the Pacific Ocean but they aren't considered part of the Pacific Islands. The Phillipines is one of them, so is Japan and Taiwan. In these cases the inhabitants are identified with the nearest continent - Asia.

I would have to agree. The Philipines aren't actually even in the Pacific Ocean, so to be islanders in the classic sense would be kind of a stretch.
If you wanted to get down to the nitty gritty, you could say that Filipinos are Austronesians. There are fair amount of people of Chinese descent there too, so I guess you'd really have to go specifically by her family if you wanted to determined which ethnicity her mother really is.

My ex is Filipino and white (Irish specifically) and I guarantee she has no idea what an Islander is. Any mention of Austronesian and her brain could quite possibly catch fire.

When I met her I thought she was Puerto Rican. She said "No, I'm a mutt"

They're asian, but everyone I've know, Filipino that is, said they were an islander. We were young then though. Much pride in their being, much like Puerto Ricans aren't hispanic, if you get what I mean. They are their own specfic group too good for other hispanics.

How about Euroislandasian? Perhaps Aspeanand? My wife is Chinese and my buddy Vlad is from a Russian town further south and east then she's from. Would that make him more 'Asian' then her?



Stupid labelling by continent.....

She's asian, or half asian.
There are several islands that are located within the boundaries of the Pacific Ocean but they aren't considered part of the Pacific Islands. The Phillipines is one of them, so is Japan and Taiwan. In these cases the inhabitants are identified with the nearest continent - Asia.

You're missing the point. Asian is a race, not an ethnic identity. The ethnic identity comes from your tribe, village, region or other cultural upbringing. Think of ethnic foods, they vary by the same factors. The Philippines has many ethnic centers varying widely from the lowland Filipinos, both Muslim and Christian to the more than 100 upland tribal groups, approximately 3% of the population. If you want to know who you are ethnically look at the foods and traditions that remind you of home.

You're missing the point. Asian is a race, not an ethnic identity. The ethnic identity comes from your tribe, village, region or other cultural upbringing. Think of ethnic foods, they vary by the same factors. The Philippines has many ethnic centers varying widely from the lowland Filipinos, both Muslim and Christian to the more than 100 upland tribal groups, approximately 3% of the population. If you want to know who you are ethnically look at the foods and traditions that remind you of home.

There is no point to miss or hit - it is simply a fact: The Phillipines are not one of the Pacific Islands. It's not my decision to make what the fuck they call themselves. If a Philipino filled out a census form and listed himself as an Islander and not Asian, he will have filled out the census incorrectly. There is no arguing about it.

And it has absolutely nothing to do with being Muslim or Christian...WTF??? You're missing the point.

And it has absolutely nothing to do with being Muslim or Christian...WTF??? You're missing the point.

You must have read it wrong, religion is a strong influence on ethnic idenity. Here's the relevant part of my posting again:

The Philippines has many ethnic centers varying widely from the lowland Filipinos, both Muslim and Christian.....

You must have read it wrong, religion is a strong influence on ethnic idenity.[/I]

I am Asian, of Japanese descent. No matter what religion I choose, I will still be Asian, and I will still be Japanese.

Here's the relevant part of my posting again:

The Philippines has many ethnic centers varying widely from the lowland Filipinos, both Muslim and Christian.....

How is being Muslim or Christian relevant to whether they are called Islander or Asian?

I am Asian, of Japanese descent. No matter what religion I choose, I will still be Asian, and I will still be Japanese.

Your race is Asian but your ethnic identity is Japanese. Ask yourself these two simple questions. 1: Are all Japanese Asians? 2: Are all Asians Japanese?

How is being Muslim or Christian relevant to whether they are called Islander or Asian?

Religion is not relevant to race but can be a subset of an ethnic identity just like country or city of origin may be. As a Japanese are you Shinto or Buddhist? This could affect your ethnic identity.

Boku no nihongo wa toteru warui des ne

Your race is Asian but your ethnic identity is Japanese. Ask yourself these two simple questions. 1: Are all Japanese Asians? 2: Are all Asians Japanese?

That has nothing to do with this discussion. You're saying if I choose a certain religion I will no longer be Japanese, choose another religion and I will no longer be Asian...that just doesn't make sense.

Religion is not relevant to race but can be a subset of an ethnic identity just like country or city of origin may be. As a Japanese are you Shinto or Buddhist? This could affect your ethnic identity.

As a Japanese-American I am neither Shinto or Buddhist. I am not Christian, Catholic, Mormon or any of the above. But if I ever became any of the above, I will still be Japanese. No lie, it's not because of my ethnic identity or my religion, it's because of my ancestry. No religion, no matter how devout I am, will make me Chinese, Korean, African, Mexican...etc...and no religion can make me a caucasion or anything else but an asian.

Gohan Ryu, just ignore the religious component and go back to the two questions I asked you:

1: Are all Asians Japanese?

2: Are all Japanese Asians?

Yes, as a Japanese you are racially Asian but as Japanese you have an ethnic identity that is, surprise of all surprises, Japanese. Two more questions:

1: If upon my meeting you I asked you if you are Chinese would you say yes?
(probably not, even though Chinese are Asian to)

2: If upon my meeting you I asked you if you are Asian would you say yes?

:banghead:

Gohan Ryu, just ignore the religious component and go back to the two questions I asked you:

1: Are all Asians Japanese?

2: Are all Japanese Asians?

Yes, as a Japanese you are racially Asian but as Japanese you have an ethnic identity that is, surprise of all surprises, Japanese. Two more questions:

1: If upon my meeting you I asked you if you are Chinese would you say yes?
(probably not, even though Chinese are Asian to)

2: If upon my meeting you I asked you if you are Asian would you say yes?

:banghead:


I didn't really want to get involved, but from a biology background "race" only refers to the fact that you are of the human race. There are no subcategories (unless you are racist). I think what you mean to say is "ethnicity" which is different from the "ethnic identity" that you have used as well.

but to answer the other questions:

1. easy one: no, geological location in degrees.

2. multifaceted: Japanese as heritage or nationality? Just because a person is born somewhere does not make them historically predisposed to the place of birth. Ex.: Alberto Kenya Fujimori former president of Peru.

The other #1. What does this have to do with anything? This is a “was your ancestry Chinese” or “were you born in China” question. Far from the point.

The other #2. This is the question we’re trying to answer.


My take on this:

I agree with 2stroke, Filipino people would be of Asian decent. You could get more specific if you went into her genealogy.

Go with the physical appearance, that's what usually strikes people first. Question answered.

A little old. Sorry. Anyways talking about race is really confusing. We all belong to one race and thats human race. Call it a day.