Why the Media Bias Against Asians? | Asian American Issues

WHY THE MEDIA BIAS AGAINST ASIANS?
(Updated )

o aspect of American life angers us more relentlessly and insidiously than the way we're alternately maligned and ignored by the U.S.-based mass media. None of us could name a major film studio, publishing company or TV network -- other than perhaps PBS -- that hasn't committed these sins hundreds or even thousands of times.
     The mass media's distortions of Asians and Asian Americans have been decried far too often to bear repeating here. In a nutshell, though, they center around sexualizing and cheapening Asian women while simultaneously desexualizing and dismissing Asian men. Suffice to say that instances in which the U.S.-based media portray us fairly are so rare as to draw stunned disbelief each time they are encountered.
     Why this persistent assault on the culture and phenotype of a third of humanity? Some spy the heavy hand of moguls seeking economic advantage in portraying Asian competitors as inferior, and therefore, unworthy of trust, patronage or investment. Others see a conspiracy to keep down a race whose burgeoning global influence threatens in due course to overshadow that of white western peoples. A history of wars against Asian nations, sexual rivalry, economic scapegoating, xenophobia and simple ignorance are other often cited factors.
     Likely, what's at work is some combination of those and other forces.
     Share your hard-earned insights on the subtle and gross workings of the American mass media's apparent crusade against the Asian and Asian American image.
the band LINKIN PARK is very asianish, and they're pretty big now

they have 1.5 asians:

an asian d.j.(joseph hahn) and a half- japanese singer (mike shinoda) who started the band

both of them came from Art Center in pasadena, and my younger bro's art teacher who graduated from Art Center(a white guy) used to know them
dan
   Tuesday, October 02, 2001 at 02:51:13 (PDT)

Many asian women (I did not say all) submit to stereotype of oriental feminisn-submissive,dependent,weak,
fragile,unopinionated,sexual creatures
that is why media cannot be blamed for
sustaining that stereotype of asian women.

carl
Monday, October 01, 2001 at 21:04:24 (PDT)

I wouldn't recommend that anyone Asian get into the arts/tv/movies without a good backup plan (or good parents/grandparents with some cash to help you out when you are down and out). Because you will be!

You will need to be able to support yourself in other ways than your aspiring career. And it's very depressing and discouraging to have to take crap work where you feel you are portraying nothing but another stupid stereotype because you HAVE to get SOME work.

I do not recommend media jobs unless you've got a really tough skin, and lots of real friends not in the business.
AA Girl
Monday, October 01, 2001 at 15:51:06 (PDT)

Just look at Ichiro Suzuki being ignored in all but regional media for breaking a 90 year old record, despite being the leading vote-getter for the all-star game, hitting a league-leading .349. He has tied the overall singles record in the American League of 187, set by Wade Boggs in 1985. He also has at least one hit in 130 of the 152 games he has played. The record is 135, held by four players. He has a league-leading 74 multiple-hit games. He is second in the league in steals with 53. He's second in runs with 122 and has a .458 average with runners in scoring position
Celebrasian
Sunday, September 30, 2001 at 08:46:49 (PDT)

What about that Japanese American Chick Karen Maruyama who played the hotel maid on the "Jamie Foxx Show"? She is portrayed as an ugly lush who'll jump into bed with any White or Black guy, no matter how fat or ugly he is! YUCK! Why do comedians like Jamie Foxx think it's "okay" to make fun of AFs that way but get all riled up when others make fun of Blacks in the same fashion?
Random Asian Guy
Friday, September 28, 2001 at 14:05:29 (PDT)

Speaking of good asian journalism, please go view

http://goldsea.com/Air/Issues/Media/media.html

Our society can be so much better.
Friday, September 28, 2001 at 06:50:52 (PDT)

margaret cho does not represent asian at all .....instead she makes jokes about asians to get attention and promoting asian stereotype way beyond when she was a standup comedians...not to mentio that eddie murphy back in the 80's mentioned that all chinese guys have these itty bitty tiny rice dicks...in his show and margaret cho supported that by saying asain men are all short and stubby... i hate her..and i hated her show(all american girl) all american alright!!!!!!!how humiliating
hate on me i hate on you
Thursday, September 27, 2001 at 15:32:58 (PDT)

I was just having a debate with a female friend about this very subject. I am happy to read this article to know others share my view.

The mass media in the US defines what is beatiful and what is not. I hear my Asian American female friends complain all the time that "there are no good Asian men out there". Those females, through no fault of their own, do not realize that what they perceive as "beautiful" is summarily influenced by what they see on TV and the big screen.

Because no Asian males are ever portrayed, their conception of "beauty" is limited to the Brad Pitts, the Keanu Reeves, and the Denzel Washingtons of this world.

The Asian male role is limited to stereotypical antics. Don't know kung fu or unwilling to speak sing-song, forgot about making it in Hollywood. While "success" stories like Jacky Chan and Jet Li help give exposure to Asian males, in a way, their acts limit the roles that Asian males will be able to assume in the future. When was the last time you saw an Asian male assume a lead role in a romantic comedy? How about kiss? Are Asian males not capable of affection? Do they not kiss?

I implore Asian females to stop generalizing about Asian men. There are just as many "good" ones among the Asian male population as there are good men in the white or black popuations. By what seems like an innocuous comment ("Oh, there aren't any good Asian guys out there"), you are actually belittling all Asian males and contributing to the mass media's dominance over us.
Studboy D
Thursday, September 27, 2001 at 08:12:37 (PDT)

Asian Dominatrix was right. Entering other area than sciene. However, victory comes with a price. You need to fight and persevere. Don't sit back like a ma-ma boy and just keep whining.
FOP
Thursday, September 27, 2001 at 02:43:46 (PDT)

Asians American havent had a big significant impact in America compare to African americans etc. that is why Asians dont get too much exposure. and another thing is.. guess who controls most of the Media.... the Jews!!! nothing against them!!
philip
capccstyle@yahoo.com Thursday, September 27, 2001 at 00:00:59 (PDT)

Asian who is not blind,

There are other forms of journalism, not just T.V. journalism. Ever heard of writing for the newspaper? The magazine? Even the internet? In all, how many times do we see articles written by Asians? We not only need the Asian equivalent of columnists like (African-American) Clarence Page, but also more who will report and/or comment on news, films, concerts, etc.

As for anchorwomen, there are not a lot of Asian women on NATIONAL news. Or black women for that matter. It's still preponderantly blondes. Minority women are still largely confined to local news. But like you, I hope to see more Asian anchormen.

Asian Dominatrix
Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 12:01:49 (PDT)

Ever since i was really young i have wondered when an asian actress would appear on my favorite tv shows or movies. Instead i was feed cheap martial art flicks where my race was bilittled. My question is why dont i see more faces like mine of tv. I know that i and more like me exist in america, but still im ignored. The only show that ever attempted to represent asians was the "All America girl" that was abruptly cancelled. Whats going on? We as a race should support and incourage programs that attempt to show us in a human light. So please act instead of react to make some changes in a society that is so unfair!
Christina Park
MartinSintov@aol.com Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 01:05:29 (PDT)

Asian Dominatrix:

Are you not listening. "Get out there and become a journalist"? That field so clearly shows the bias of USA society! What is the ratio between asian females as television anchors vs asian males as television anchors? Something like large to zero!!

Asian who is not blind!
Tuesday, September 25, 2001 at 11:44:24 (PDT)

Thomas,

You wrote:

"Every person with a healthy sense of pride for themselves wants their race(s) to ultimately survive and therefore for all other races to die out."

That's untrue and basically a very sick statement. I hope you really didn't mean that.

Malpaso
Monday, September 24, 2001 at 13:52:48 (PDT)

we asians should not blindly listen to rap music! all asians listen to rap music! we should come up with OUR OWN MUSIC!!!!!!!! or else it will always be the black men who are getting all the exposure and the girls... u know what i'm saying?!?
dan
Sunday, September 23, 2001 at 00:28:07 (PDT)

Every person with a healthy sense of pride for themselves wants their race(s) to ultimately survive and therefore for all other races to die out. Depicting us in a negative light only helps toward that goal, since the ones controlling American mass media aren't Asian. If there were more Asian-Americans in power, simply this problem would vanish. Let this inspire us proud AZNS to fight to better our position. Assert ourselves in areas of influence to improve the self-confidence for Asian children yet to be.
Thomas
Friday, September 21, 2001 at 16:59:27 (PDT)

It's about time we got this poll. Thanks Goldsea editors!

Let me begin by saying that the Western media is no less than an insidious form of cultural terrorism as it seeks to ignore or belittle Asians. This is why there are few articles about Asian-American political figures, academics, athletes, and fashion models alike. This is why there is so little devoted to our brains, brawn, and sheer looks. And why so few Asians appear individually on the covers of Time, Newsweek, Vanity Fair, Sports Illustrated, Vogue, etc.

Only when Asians appear to act against Western cultural/economic interests do Asians become worthy of notice. Suddenly we become the blemish on the face of the world that needs to be eradicated. And then Asians become the people to be vanquished at any cost: Vincent Chin and Wen Ho Lee are only two examples of Asians who appear to augur the superiority of Japan and China respectively.

But there is only one way of combatting Western cultural terrorism: by entering the ranks of the media itself! So Asians, forget the BS your parents and Western media have told you about Asians not being suited to study anything other than the sciences. Get out there and become a journalist. An activist. Or a producer.

Battle on, my fellow Asian-Americans!
Asian Dominatrix
Friday, September 21, 2001 at 15:20:25 (PDT)

NEWEST COMMENTS | EARLIER COMMENTS