History The term 'Gin' to refer to indigenous females

[Scotland]

I have heard it in SA, NT and WA

noongar was another name which I think is a tribe in WA. Given it is an actual name of a tribe the word itself is not derogative but its usage usually was.

To be fair you could just say ******* Aboriginal if you wanted to be derogatory. Abbreviations and racist terms just make it easier.

 

[Kram]

OP might need to get out more, pretty sure in another thread they reckoned that the shortening to 'Abo' was perfectly fine.

 

[Scotland]

When is an abbreviation racist compared to not?

Abo, Paki, Jap - none are considered OK.

I wouldn't have thought Indo or Argie for example is particularly offensive.

 

[kfc1]

OP might need to get out more, pretty sure in another thread they reckoned that the shortening to 'Abo' was perfectly fine.

Think I prefer the sort of company that doesn't use the term 'Gin' based on what I've read in this thread.

 

[Belnakor]

I've been asking my mates and relo's no one's been called a Gin and nobodys heard anyone else called one either.
are people sure this isn't regional? or generational?

you are from sydney.

how many aboriginals are based on the east coast anyway?

I've heard it plenty of times having worked in the pilbara.

 

[Sydney Bloods]

you are from sydney.

how many aboriginals are based on the east coast anyway?

I've heard it plenty of times having worked in the pilbara.

no ******* clue, how many non indigenous people are on the west coast?

 

[Belnakor]

no ******* clue, how many non indigenous people are on the west coast?

Have you even met a full blood aboriginal?

 

[jim boy]

When is an abbreviation racist compared to not?

Abo, Paki, Jap - none are considered OK.

I wouldn't have thought Indo or Argie for example is particularly offensive.

Its the cultural connotations that obtain on the way. In Australia a Paki has usuually meant genuinely that they are either a pakistani cricketer or they are from pakistan, in the uk, the connotations are entirely different and the term is really racist. Most pejorative terms are pretty innocuous if you stick strictly to literal definitions.

 

[Pie eyed]

Nyungar people from my area still call each other Nyungars and don't mind if white people do either.

I think it's actually a word that's been reclaimed. I remember kids using it as an insult in the 80's, but modern Nyungar people are proud to call themselves that.

Offense to terms describing aboriginality seems to be cyclical, generational possibly.
Black fella and white fella used to be accepted, by both groups, not that long ago.
Seems to have waned though.

 

[kfc1]

Offense to terms describing aboriginality seems to be cyclical, generational possibly.
Black fella and white fella used to be accepted, by both groups, not that long ago.
Seems to have waned though.

This is why I find it so stupid - it's all about the intent of the person using the word. Words become taboo when people use them to denigrate others - nothing inherent in the word. Once a term becomes so socially unacceptable to use, someone wanting to denigrate will find another term and eventually that will become unacceptable to use and so on. It's a pointless circle.

 

[Sydney Bloods]

Have you even met a full blood aboriginal?

met plenty who've claimed it.

 

[Chief]

Its the cultural connotations that obtain on the way. In Australia a Paki has usuually meant genuinely that they are either a pakistani cricketer or they are from pakistan, in the uk, the connotations are entirely different and the term is really racist. Most pejorative terms are pretty innocuous if you stick strictly to literal definitions.

A good friend of mine's nickname is "Paki" - it is a short version of his surname which is 6 or 7 syllables long.

 

[Fluro Boots]

there's also the rhyming slang version 'couple of thick and thins"

 

[Upgrayedd]

Haven't really copped this one since it's more directed at females

However i remember at the bank once when i was about 9ish with my mum (not full blood) let another lady through who had 2 kids crying and a taxi cut in front who was also aboriginal. And one of the ladies walking out after this happened told us "You gins do stick together", was an older lady at the time.

It's not really common one in the younger generation

 

[Illinois Nazi]

A good friend of mine's nickname is "Paki" - it is a short version of his surname which is 6 or 7 syllables long.

And I work with a guy we call "Abbo", which is a short version of his surname.

 

[Moo]

Noongar would only be offensive if you use it to describe other Aboriginal tribes outside the South West of WA. Akin to calling a Canadian a Yank.

Woman in Noongar is Yok or York....I am happy to have not heard the word Gin in open use in the last 10 years.

All the Noongars I know are very proud of it....I am however just a Wadjila.

 

[Pie eyed]

met plenty who've claimed it.

Sounds like you are dubious?

 

[Upgrayedd]

met plenty who've claimed it.

And here we go

 

[Ant_]

Hmm never heard of it before.

Only Gin I know is a s**t drink that's mixed with tonic

 

[Admiral Byng]

Hmm never heard of it before.

Only Gin I know is a s**t drink that's mixed with tonic

Much better with bitter lemon, tonic water is pants.

 

[Danny Cullen]

Only Gin I know is a s**t drink that's mixed with tonic

My father always used to say that gin 'tastes like a mouthful of flowers'. I tend to agree. Quite a refreshing refreshment.

 

[kfc1]

My father always used to say that gin 'tastes like a mouthful of flowers'. I tend to agree. Quite a refreshing refreshment.

Hate to break it to you but he wasn't referring to the drink

 

[Danny Cullen]

Hate to break it to you but he wasn't referring to the drink

Noooooo!!

 

[Papa G]

Victorians, I have found on the whole just don't really seem to come into contact with Aboriginals that much. As a percentage of the population they seem to be far less than rest of Australia bar Tasmania.

 

[tandino]

Victorians, I have found on the whole just don't really seem to come into contact with Aboriginals that much. As a percentage of the population they seem to be far less than rest of Australia bar Tasmania.

Here's the breakdown, percentage of state population. As per 2011 census.

NSW 2.9
Vic 0.9
Qld 4.3
WA 3.6
SA 2.3
Tas 4.9
ACT 1.7
NT 30