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ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Are AA Women the Real Victims of Prejudice?
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:11:07 PM)
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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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
There you go, upset AF, that's a reality check for you. Haven't you heard about white flight? That's happening all over California, next time you see or hear about when whites move out of California, don't buy their excuses of them looking for a slower way of life. They just want to be amongst themselves, even the so called white liberals!
Many asians are only deluding themselves by moving into rich white suburban enclaves. No matter how rich or successful an asian may be in America, he/she is only fooling themself if they think they will be welcome with open arms into white suburban communities. There aint no such thing as a model minority.
painful truth
Saturday, December 14, 2002 at 22:23:16 (PST)
[12.233.247.164]
Very upset,
This is off topic but...
I have to disagree with you. AF only has it tough if she chooses not to sell out her culture and herself.
AM are seen as competitors irregardless of what we do and who we associate with. AF are only seen as competitors when it comes to relationships, otherwise, they aren't given much negative attention by whites.
AF have the option of playing to societies so-called "ideals" if they want it easy, AM don't have that option. Everything we get is earned.
Sorry if I stepped on your toes.
huu76
Saturday, December 14, 2002 at 08:16:01 (PST)
[207.164.88.163]
To A Very Upset AF,
You wrote, "Racism seems more prevalent in richer suburban areas compared to the slums where race is diverse yet unified."
Go to South Central or East LA, then you'll reconsider this statement. A lot of the blacks and hispanics in those areas are really racist toward Asians and other races.
"One would think that in a place of rich suburbia, people would act more civil, but they are not."
Just because you have more money doesn't mean that you are necessarily going to be more open minded or respectful. Suburbanites may be more formally educated, but school does not teach you to be a better person.
"my next door neighbor's kid saw me walking my dog, he unlocked his back gate to let their dog run out and attack my dog!"
How do you know it was intentional?
"I told him to grab the camcorder and record all of the blood on the concrete and the bite on my dog."
Good for you.
"He did not apologize and clearly saw that my dog's blood was dripping all over the sidewalk, and he called it playing?!!!"
You have every right to sue him. Why don't you call PETA? They would know how to help you.
"For the next 5 days, he shut all of his blinds, and whenever he'd walk in and out of the house, he'd slam the door really loud just to make a point!"
Why don't you post fliers in the neighborhood warning about the dog?
"We went to the city's Animal Control Office, and the people in the office said that they could not do anything about it because we had no proof that it was the next door neighbor's dog."
There is proof. That's a bunch of bs. In San Francisco, a woman's partner sued because her neighbor's rottweiler killed her. There wasn't even a videotape. You have more than enough proof.
"If you don't believe me, then look at the media: Asians are almost always often portrayed as the enemy: I.E."
Lately, I've noticed a lot of positive portrayals of Asians in commercials. It's improved a lot, but there's still a way to go.
"Oh, just like Burger King commercials, why do they always show blacks and hispanics eating their hamburgers, what is it because they can't afford a better meal?"
I've seen many commercials where blacks have a nice lifestyle. Most of the fast food commercials have white people in them. I've seen a Lexus commercial and diamonds commercial with black people.
"Not to mention the fact that Christians sneer upon others who aren't Christian, saying that "Anyone non-Christian, will burn in hell"..."
That's not true of all Christians.
"We've been listening to these petifiles preach to us while committing such lude acts!"
You're stereotyping all priests as pedophiles, which is completely unfair.
"I thought: damn! She's trying to save my soul? I live in rich suburbia, why the hell do you want to save my soul?"
You can be materially rich, but spiritually bankrupt. Money does not make you more or less spiritual. It's your values that do.
"Why don't you go save those who are really in need you money grubber?"
Not all of these people want your money. Sometimes, they just want to share. I don't open the door to solicitors. I ask them their business and say that I'm not interested.
You're bitter. You're just reacting emotionally to what has happened to you.
js
Saturday, December 14, 2002 at 00:08:53 (PST)
[63.199.245.126]
my brother-in-law is irish american, and he sometimes asks what i prefer, with an evil smile. i suspect he thinks i would say wf. as you can guess he too is also media conditioned into thinking that wf are sought by foriegn men. he's one of those wm who has this racist complex.
in fact many wm do and they know it but try to sneak it by. you all can guess where i'm going with this. but i do understand why wm in amerca are like this; it's all they have .
it's me
Friday, December 13, 2002 at 23:36:38 (PST)
[218.145.25.13]
A Very Upset AF = ,
Wow, that was quite a harrowing tale. Sorry to hear all the troubles that have come your way recently. They would get my blood broiling too, especially the dog incident.
I'm pretty mellow and easy going by nature. I haven't had very much negative and racist stuff happen to me in my life, and even if i did i can imagine that i would've just turned the other cheek.
Now, i'm starting to change my mindset. It kind of disgusts me to think that American society thinks of us Asians as meek and subservient, that we don't like to make trouble. I see white, black, and Hispanic people complaining in stores, restaurants, wherever all the time when they feel the service isn't that great or they've been mistreated. Why shouldn't we be like that too? Why should we have to take the Denny's treatment and live with it.
I say speak up and tell off all those a**holes who try to put us down and treat us disrespectfully.
A Very Upset AF =, I wonder if there's any kind of legal action that you can take against the owner of that dog. Too bad your video footage didn't include the actual attack -- that would've been the smoking gun and no one could refute your story.
Valley Chinese Dude
Friday, December 13, 2002 at 21:57:10 (PST)
[67.24.127.190]
I really can't comment on what A Very Angry AF has said, but I don't doubt a word of it. I wish I could say things will get better, but sometimes it's just wishful thinking.
TB
Friday, December 13, 2002 at 14:32:44 (PST)
[205.215.115.210]
A Very Upset AF
You should contact the local Asian civil rights organizations for further assistance. Don't let that asshole go scott-free. Or if you have gangster friends, pay them to shoot his dog. I hope you don't drop this matter like an Asian living in a comfort zone.
FOP
Friday, December 13, 2002 at 11:08:27 (PST)
[12.235.196.239]
Very upset AF,
Man, that was awful. I'm sorry you had to go through that, especially the attack on your dog. I don't know what else to say, except that I'm truly sorry to hear what happened to you. I hope you bounce back stronger than ever. Those assholes can rot in hell, and I hope that mutt goes to Doggie Hell. Take care of yourself.
PS: Are you South Asian? If not, I don't think that they could have mistaken you for being middle Eastern... please clarify.
Sympathetic AM
Friday, December 13, 2002 at 10:57:54 (PST)
[132.236.79.37]
Living in a rich, snobby suburban area in Laguna Hills, soCal, I can tell you one things for sure:
Racism seems more prevalent in richer suburban areas compared to the slums where race is diverse yet unified.
I've lived in both areas; and in the rich area, mostly populated with Whites obviously, a lot people are so ignorant and closed minded.
It's so unbelievable, you should have seen it after the 9-11 incident.
That's when I really got to see that I the hidden racism behind my community. The comments that people made against the middle eastern people were unremarkable, it felt as if I was living in some backwards hick town in Tenessee or something.
One would think that in a place of rich suburbia, people would act more civil, but they are not. They display so much hatred. (Especially when driving in their gas guzzling S.U.V.s, they are so agressive, they even spit at your car while driving!)
One incident that really proved that I do live in a highly racist area is when I walked my dog outside in the neighborhood, my next door neighbor's kid saw me walking my dog, he unlocked his back gate to let their dog run out and attack my dog!
Their dog literally chewed up on my dog's leg. His kid stood there and laughed while I was crying, screaming for help, some of the neighbors around me watched behind their front gates but didn't do anything as I was shouting for help!
The owner of the dog came out, he started screaming at me, not at his dog, who was known to be quite the biter, he screamed at me with his red face and said:
"Look, My dog is just playing with your dog, he's just nipping, he's just playing...They're just playing...Now could you please get off my property now... please get you and your dog off of my property..."
We were standing on the sidewalk when this happened by the way, and they were renting the house, he didn't own it. That's besides the point, but he was not only heartless but obviously territorial just like his viscious dog!
I stood there shocked, crying while my dog whimpered in a pool of blood. I cried so loud that my cousin finally heard me and ran out. I told him to grab the camcorder and record all of the blood on the concrete and the bite on my dog.
We did, and when my cousin was filming, that asshole came out and said would you please get off of my property now!
He did not apologize and clearly saw that my dog's blood was dripping all over the sidewalk, and he called it playing?!!!
We ran to the emergency room at the Vet, even the Veterenarians were rude and were only concerned about our Mastercard, not the dog's wound.
The bill came out to be $548. Just playing? He was scared that we'd sue his ass!
For the next 5 days, he shut all of his blinds, and whenever he'd walk in and out of the house, he'd slam the door really loud just to make a point!
My parents are passive, they didn't bother asking for the money for my dog's wound. My dog is a beagle by the way, they're known for being very friendly, in fact, while that bastard's dog was gnawing on my dogs leg, my dog did not even bite him cuz he was trying to get away from that big dog. I tried pulling my dog out of his dog's mouth, but the dog was so big that I was scared to budge cuz he'd bith me as well.
I was so angry, no apology, no nothing. We went to the city's Animal Control Office, and the people in the office said that they could not do anything about it because we had no proof that it was the next door neighbor's dog.
Gosh, even the official authority was against us! That's when I really noticed that this community is RACIST!
It's given me a reality check on being a minority in America, in which I tried avoiding in the past. I really believed that people were NOT as racist now compared to 50 yrs before.
It's only been 50 years since they threw out the segregation laws. The hate is still there, it's deeply rooted.
If you don't believe me, then look at the media: Asians are almost always often portrayed as the enemy: I.E.
In: The Fast and Furious (In which Asians were O.G.'s of lowered Japanese Cars racing.)
The James Bond Movie.
That one commercial on how that one white kid went into a Chinese store to buy a wallet, and the owners laughed at his face after they asked him if this wallet was for his graduation, and he said no he did not graduate, and the Chinese couple started apeaking in Chinese, laughing at him, and handed over a tiny wallet, as to mock him for not graduating.
Come on, what is that implying on? Oh, Chinese people, asians, are the sworn enemies? We're sneaky? What, is it because asians excel in the academics so, you better keep up?
(What, is that why the bell curve was invented? I'm curious.)
O.K., well Most action packed movies portray asians as the enemy. Geeh, why is that so?
I didn't realize this until our college professor made it clear to us that sadly, "there is an underlying message" to what the media says about specific groups of people.
Just observe, you'll see.
Oh, just like Burger King commercials, why do they always show blacks and hispanics eating their hamburgers, what is it because they can't afford a better meal?
On the other hand they always show white people eating at nice chicken pot pies from restaurants like Marie Calendars, mouth watering steak, or eating a nice lobster meal at Red Lobsters.
One more added thing, with the bio-terrorism, it would not surprise me if we were to find out 10 yrs later that the U.S. wiped out a large population of people in some third world country just to test their bio-chemical weapons!
Not to mention, that half of the coverage on the news gets filtered out by the government used as propoganda! So whatevers going on in the News is very obscure, I wouldn't trust it.
It's His Story, not theirs. Don't forget, history repeats itself, wars are constant.
We are living in torment, and we don't know it.
I want you to all know, that NOT ALL WHITE PEOPLE are like that though, there is a handful of them who do have a heart of gold and should be well respected for it.
I just wished that I could have encountered more of them!
For goodness sakes, even at our church, the senior citizens display their racist attitudes! Like when my mom and I walk to the front door of the church, they would often open the door for others except for us. There aren't that many asians at my church, but boy do they display hostility. Especially from the ushers.
Some times I get so frustrated with my mom, I tell her why do you still go here? You come here to dish out money to bigots? They just want your money, don't you get it? Gosh, and her reply is: Oh, I come here for God not them!
Ugghhhh...You find God in yourself...boy does that upset me!
Not to mention the fact that Christians sneer upon others who aren't Christian, saying that "Anyone non-Christian, will burn in hell"...
Ugghhh..., and they use that as an excuse to exploit their economy in 3rd world countries by saying that they're trying to save other peopls souls by converting them to Christianity, while they reef the benefits of that specific countries' natural resource and kill of their men?
How Christian is that? Saving souls while killing mankind? It is all greed. Do you see other asian countries controlling other countries by using Buhdism as an excuse to control their people?
In fact, Buhdism does not seek its way to kill others, except, it promotes peace in every aspect; and yet, all though, against Christian beliefs, Buhdists are to burn in hell! Isn't that Ironic?
I wish I could tell my mom, hello, it's just a scare tactic. We've been listening to these petifiles preach to us while committing such lude acts!
In fact, the priest that we used to listen to, just got busted for molesting a boy 20 yrs ago, and the truth finally came out cold. These are hard facts, and she doesn't get it!
Oh, and the other day, I was busy studying for finals, and one of the missionary ladies came to my house and rung the doorbell.
She was holding her stack of bibles, I knew that she wanted to preach about Judhea or something. I though:
"damn, I worried about finals and all she's worried about, ultimately in the long-run, collecting 10% from my annual pay-check in the future!
I thought: damn! She's trying to save my soul? I live in rich suburbia, why the hell do you want to save my soul?
There are hundreds of homeless people in L.A. smoking pot, doing crack, they are the ones who need the most help! why don't you go save their souls"?
I have a nice roof over my head, plenty of food, and a safe neighborhood. I'm privelaged and you wanna save my soul bitch?
Whatever! If she was really out there to save peoples' souls, then she should help those who are more in need.
Anyway, with all that in my mind, I answered the door and said that I'm really busy, which I was; and she kept on insisting:
"Oh, do you have any young children that I could talk to...?"
That really got my blood boiling, I thought:
"even if I did, why would I even let them run out to jump in your lap so that you could tell them a fat lie about how God will burn them in hell if they aren't Christian!"
Then, I quickly said sorry but we have no children, but thanks for dropping by!
Ugghhh...what a hypocrite, save my soul, I've all ready been converted thanks a lot. Why don't you go save those who are really in need you money grubber?
It's so obvious, it's because those who are really in need in America, don't really have much to offer, no money, nothing. So, why would these missionaries want to waste their time?
Sad, ain't it? What's annyoing is that we have a NO SOLICITING sign right next to the door!
Anyway, not to sound racist, but that's what I've come to realize, the underlying truth of what's really up with our society.
I used to be very optimistic, an idealist, but now I am skeptical.
I still remain true to my white friends, they're cool by the way, they are a whole new breed of open minded people! I love them, and don't distinct race when it comes to them!
Please don't take this post the wrong way, but it's just a reality check behind the mixed messages that are hidden behind the American Media!
A Very Upset AF =
ntt821@hotmail.com
Friday, December 13, 2002 at 02:44:46 (PST)
[68.4.253.208]
Asian Women in America do not have it easy in America!
They are severely oppressed by the media and society.
We have a huge cross to bear!
Asian men all ready have it tough in corporate America, Asian women have it 3 times worse.
As an Asian American Woman, I feel outraged about the American society.
I work hard, and have been envied by mostly white men. shall I say boys for my achievements.
This society is Facist, and totally against women being in power.
I don't want to sound like a feminist, but it's the truth.
There will probably never be a first female present, probably not for the next 5 decades.
Even white females do not rank high in corporate America. So think about it, Asian women have it ten times worse than the white woman.
I've experienced this in college. It is very unfair.
Not to add to the fact that yes, most of the men, think that I am the typical submissive asian female, potential for sex object as portrayed on the media, just because I am not as loud, crude and outspoken about my opinions in class.
Asian women really carry a burden; especially once they enter the working world!
Very Upset!
Friday, December 13, 2002 at 00:25:49 (PST)
[68.4.253.208]
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