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ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Are AA Women the Real Victims of Prejudice?
sian women get a free ride at the expense of Asian men. That's the received wisdom here in the U.S. This belief appears premised on the suspicion that American society sees Asian women as sexy exotics in need of rescuing from the cold clutches of Asian men who don't know how to smile except evilly.
The real victim?
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Credit Hollywood for its tireless casting of Asian women as sexual accessories to white heroes while suppressing the very existence of Asian men except as unsavory paper tigers. Credit too the TV networks that uncover bevies of talking Asian women but rarely their male counterparts.
In fairness this media fantasy of the Asian race was partly inspired by recent history. Devastated and impoverished Asian nations sent tens of thousands of war brides and orphans, followed by several million desperate immigrants willing to hock their identities while toiling to build new lives.
Male-dominated societies toast new women as exotic sexual prospects while suppressing new men as an exploitable lower class or even enemy aliens. The women get all the breaks and the men get all the lumps. Even worse, the women have their heads turned and adopt a scornful attitude toward their own men. So goes the complaint of some AA men.
The women have a different take. Sexual predators bearing insulting stereotypes must be fended off while coping with women who see them as unfair competitors. Add to that the pain of being scorned as sellouts by AA men for no more reason than their apparent welcome by American society. Worst of all, complain AA women, is being begrudged the right to take simple pleasure in their own identities. How much easier just to face straightforward racial prejudice!
Do Asian women really have an easier time in America? Or do they suffer from the double-whammy of insulting stereotypes from non-Asians and unfair persecution from Asian men?
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Discussions posted during the past year remain available for browsing.
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:10:53 PM)
Researcher,
i don't know if asian women are portrayed as sluts on TV and i think you are using AD's vouching much in the same way a drunk uses a lamp post - for support not illumination.
what about the asian nurse in ER - she wasn't portrayed as a slut - quite the opposite (or is there a problem with that too)
well what about Ally McBeal you say - Lucy Liu i agree played the slut - but so did nearly every other woman on the show
these are only two but i invite you to come up with other examples which is better than broad generalisations (or generalisations about broads - get it?)
as for:
"Obviously there is a big market for viewing Asian women as sluts."
The market for viewing asian women in any shape or form is actually rather tiny....same for other minority women.
But please let's have some concrete examples.
maxdacat
Thursday, June 13, 2002 at 02:27:48 (PDT)
Researcher,
Maybe it's because I don't watch much television anymore, but I haven't noticed the Asian woman being portrayed as a slut. I'm not saying there haven't been Asian women who've played those roles, but you see "sluts" of all races on television.
Is it possible you might be over representing this observation? I can honestly say I've never once wanted to see an Asian woman portrayed in a negative role just because she was Asian. And I'm just an average ordinary person.
Therefore, I have to disagree with you that there is a need by the majority to see Asian women portrayed as sluts; although, I don't doubt you sincerely believe this.
BTW, how many blondes do you see portrayed as sex symbols? I think babes will always be babes regardless of race.
Don't assume just because I don't agree with you that I don't believe your concerns are real, because I do. Two things: we are not all the enemy; and you have to understand that we are capable of rational thought, and we do realize that all Asian women are not sluts. Take care.
DD
Wednesday, June 12, 2002 at 21:40:40 (PDT)
Researcher,
I think if we finetune it, this is what it comes down to this: media execs assume that the general American public only wants to see Asians devalued. But whether ALL whites really want to see Asians devalued is questionable.
Sociologist,
Actually, the one incident that came up in my case was not a boyfriend, but a male friend.
When his mother came to pick us up at the train station after our night out at the opera, she did NOT look too pleased. She barely acknowledged me and spoke only to her son on the way back to his house.
A few years later when I was having a conversation with him, we were laughing about the various dating experiences that each of us had encountered. He said something like "God, this is too weird, you are just like me. You know we'd make a great couple but my folks would probably flip if I brought home an Asian." I said, "Yeah, I know, my folks are the same and they think nothing but a man with 100% pure Chinese blood will do. And yeah, they want him to have a Ph.D, M.D. etc. etc." This wasn't really true, but I wasn't about to let him think that all Asians want their daughter to marry a white and any kind of white at that.
Are you writing a book on Asians in IR?
Asian Dominatrix
Wednesday, June 12, 2002 at 21:23:32 (PDT)
Asian Dominatrix,
"I've also met quite a few white women who're worried about what daddy might do if they bring home an "ethnic" man."
Long time, Asian Dominatirx. See that you are very active ranting your thoughts here. I thought American women were liberated by the "feministic movement" in the 60's. They think they are the most independent and can always choose what to wear, what to say and whom they date. Why did I just hear some daddy's little girl worried about bringing an ethnic man home? Do you think this whole American feminist movement was only some political rhetoric? Have you ever snubbed back at white women with their issue of dating "ethnic" men or bringing ethnic men home when they complain to you about Asian women selling themselves as "sluts" or "whores" to white men? I would like to hear your input
I suggest that Asian American should watch when Japan & Korea play. These two teams have really stunted the European & South American teams with their dribbling skills & attacking power.
FOp
Wednesday, June 12, 2002 at 16:26:23 (PDT)
"I've also met quite a few white women who're worried about what daddy might do if they bring home an "ethnic" man."
I have also met quite a few white men who are worried about what mommy might do if they bring home an "ethnic" woman.
Asian Male
Wednesday, June 12, 2002 at 12:30:21 (PDT)
"No I guess I would have to say that for the most part I don't like asian females. Neither do a lot of other white women. It's a fact of life, so deal with it."
Thanks for the honesty. I have always known this to be true. In general, black women do not like white women and white women do not like Asian women. Most of it is fight over the men of their respective racial groups.
Asian Dominatrix:
You have frequently said that you date white men, but you have problems with white women regarding racial issues. Were there instances where you had dated white men, and their mothers or sisters wanted you to leave him (your date) alone...or wanted your date to find a "real" (white) woman? I have heard other Asian women complain about this.
Sociologist
Tuesday, June 11, 2002 at 10:17:45 (PDT)
DD,
What do we see on TV? The complaint here is that the Asian women have been portrayed as sluts...Asian Dominatrix would vouch for this. Now the question is why are Asian women portrayed as sexual symbols and sluts. As the Economist and Maxdacat would argue the media gets away with portraying Asian women as sluts because the majority wants to see them as such. It is basic economics. So, if the TV portrays Asian women as sluts it is responding to the American market. The majority here is the TV viewers in prime time or those who go to the movies. Obviously there is a big market for viewing Asian women as sluts. Hence the TV is catering to the demand out there.
Researcher
Tuesday, June 11, 2002 at 10:09:50 (PDT)
huu76,
I'm wondering where you live, cos' that might make a huge difference.
If you live in a predominantly white upper-middle class neighborhood OUTSIDE of CA, Asians there will almost inevitably be white-washed, or at least be inclined in that direction. Many will learn the manners of the snotty whites who live in those areas: it's called ass-imilation. Believe me when I say a lot of these folks(and their brothers) act like they're "entitled" even if they're not lords, ladies, countesses, etc. And unfortunately this means they will assume that only a white man can fulfill their dreams of becoming perfect.
If you then attend a large public university or a private university which draws its students from a wider social background, you will find a much larger cross-section of people from different walks of life than you did in HS and you will most likely find many more "average" WFs, HF's, BF's and AFs. Plain, unencumbered people with their heads straight on their shoulders.
Believe me, I know the kind of snotty Asian chicks you're referring to: I've known a few at my undergraduate alma mater. I've also met quite a few white women who're worried about what daddy might do if they bring home an "ethnic" man.
Having said that, I have seen many more AFs, WFs, BFs, and HFs who are admirably grounded in reality. Even the ones from snotty backgrounds. (The ones with brains will abandon their preconceptions.)
They are out there.
Asian Dominatrix
Tuesday, June 11, 2002 at 07:35:56 (PDT)
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