Asian Women White

Asian Women White
Now Reading On Asian Women & American White Sexual Imperialism
On March 16th, 2021, eight people in Georgia were killed in a string of shootings that took place at three different spas and massage parlors: Young’s Asian Massage in Cherokee County, Georgia, and Aromatherapy Spa and Gold Spa, both in Atlanta.
Six of the eight victims — Soon-Chung Park 박순정, Hyun-Jung Grant 김]현정, Sun-Cha Kim 김선자, Yong-Ae Yue 유영애, Xiaojie Tan 谭小洁 and Daoyou Feng 冯道友 — were Asian women; each of the locations that were targeted were Asian-owned. The gunman was white .
The massacre was an unignorable tragedy; it was also a blaring alarm warning of the increasing anti-Asian xenophobia within the United States. In the months leading up to the shooting, anti-Asian hate crimes had been rapidly on the rise. In January, an 84-year-old Thai man, Vichar Ratanapakdee was murdered in San Francisco . Just a few days later a 91-year-old Asian man was assaulted in Oakland . These are just a few of the hate crimes; in just the first three months of 2021, Anti-Asian hate crimes have increased by 169%.
Along with its accompanying media coverage, the Atlanta shootings were also a wakeup call to examine the way white America perceives — and has historically perceived — Asian women, as unimportant, one-dimensional accessories to the broader American narrative.
It was no coincidence that the public knew the shooter’s name, face, and the fact that, according to a member of the police department, he’d been having a “bad day” — before anyone knew a single name of one of the eight victims, a single one of their faces, a single detail about their lives before they were lost forever.
Arguably more infuriating was the media’s obsessive and suggestive attachment to the six Asian women’s jobs as workers at spas and massage parlors, a “customer is always right” industry that has historically been hypersexualized by the white gaze. This hypersexualization of female Asian labor has led to legislation like the 1875 Page Act , which restricted female Asian service workers from entering the United States under the automatic assumption they were prostitutes.
With this in mind, it was only a matter of time before the police and media outlets alike took on a twisted game of victim-blaming , pointing to the victims’ occupational circumstances and the shooter’s alleged Asian “sex addiction” as, if not excuses for the massacre, then at least rationalizations for it, as if the murder of any human could ever be rationalized. Though, it does become a lot easier to do just that when a society-at-large doesn’t grant a group of people their humanity to begin with.
That is precisely what the situation is in the U.S., which is why the Atlanta massacre, specifically, was a jolting reflection of white America’s perception of Asian women as faceless and submissive — mere ”things” to be conquered. As distasteful and distressing as this stereotype is, it is not shocking — to be surprised by it is to be oblivious to American history.
The United States houses a long history of fetishizing and violating Asian women without repercussion, a phenomenon coined by Sunny Woan as “white sexual imperialism.”
The modern foundation of this imperialist relationship between Asian women and white America can be traced to the American military’s history of objectification and sexual abuse in Asia during the 20th century, but the original roots of it twist back further in time, and are as rooted in the founding and westward expansion of this nation.
In 1834, 14-year-old Afong Moy, the first Chinese young woman to arrive in the United States, was brought here by traders Nathaniel and Frederick Carne, and billed as “The Chinese Lady” as part of an “Oriental” museum exhibit.
In the zoo-like exhibition, Moy was instructed to continuously perform an extreme version of her daily routine, all while on display in a glass box. She drank tea and ate rice with chopsticks as white museum-goers peered and commented on her appearance.
Narrators accompanied Moy’s performance, emphasizing her docility and pointing out different parts of her “exotic” physique to audience members.
The fact that the first Chinese woman in America’s ticket to the United States came at the price of her objectification is important to note, because it forever set the precedent for white interaction with Asian women. Moy, and subsequently, all Asian women, being introduced to America as a larger-than-life docile fantasy created an unshakeable association between Asian women and traits like demure, exotic and serving. Following Moy’s arrival to America, multiple companies within the United States began piloting picture bride systems, which gave white American men the power to pick and order women and girls from East Asia like commodities out of catalogues.
More recently, and particularly throughout the 20th century, the white American gaze has been filtered through a lens of imperialistic contact, spanning the Vietnam War (1955-1975), with one notably horrific attack happening in the village of My Lai , where American soldiers pillaged and massacred the community, and raped approximately 20 Vietnamese women and girls. During World War II’s War of the Pacific, American sailors raped countless civilian women during the Okinawa occupation. After WWII, the US occupied Korea up until the outbreak Korean War, inheriting Japan’s WWII comfort women practice of forcefully exploiting Korean civilian women for sex . To this day, the legacy of the American military’s sexual exploitation of Asian women still lives on. Currently, American military bases in South Korea, or camptowns, are still marked by high prostitution rates.
Five months ago, I turned 17 — three years older than Afong Moy was when she first set foot in the United States. Although it has now been almost two centuries since Moy’s exhibition tour across America, instances like the massacre in Atlanta remind me that I, along with every other Asian woman in America, have never truly left the glass exhibition box.
The massacre in Atlanta and every other instance anti-Asian violence, particularly of the last year, reminded me that, whether I’m conscious of it or not, in the eyes of the white gaze, my body is still just another listing in a catalogue. This isn’t just a metaphor, though, this also manifests in my daily life.
During online school, white classmates ask me my thoughts on the Atlanta victims, wondering specifically what I thought about the fact that they worked in massage parlors. These questions are as pointed as the stares Moy must have endured;I feel like I’m being asked to pour tea for an audience of zoo-gooers.
On the street, a man rolls down his window and yells at me: “Ni hao, baby. I would love a piece of that.” I feel like I have an exhibition sign tacked to my back; I wonder what it was like to be one of the women who was force-purchased from a catalogue, unable to hide from unwanted sexual advances. I log onto social media and see the voices of Korean femme organizers being drowned out by articles about Atlanta’s “happy ending” massages, and it feels like I — like every Asian woman in America — am screaming inside our glass boxes, only nobody can hear us. Nobody wants to. The rest of America just sits and watches from outside the exhibit, free to come and go as they please.
The perpetuation of white sexual imperialism keeps Asian women chained to a caricature of white male fantasy; the centuries-long commodification of our bodies has forced us to inherit hyper-sexualized and overly submissive stereotypes that we never would have chosen for ourselves — but history bore us into this exhibition box.
So where do we go from here? Although it’s hard to dismantle centuries of calcified caricature, what isn’t hard — what shouldn’t be hard — is focusing on the humanity of each Asian woman targeted by white supremacy, of telling their stories, of telling our own.
This means honoring all eight of the victims of the Atlanta massacre outside of a lens of residual imperialist violence, and remembering them for who they were in life. Remember them not for their connection to white supremacy, but for the way they lived and the way they loved; remember them for the way they cooked jjigae stew and watched Korean dramas. Remember them for the way they always welcomed customers new and old with a smile and open arms; remember them for the way they were willing to leave motherlands behind in hopes of forging a better future for their loved ones.
This rhetoric also extends to ourselves. During times of increasing anti-Asian xenophobia, it is extremely important that we, as Asian women, hold close all the joyous and nuanced parts of our identities. Oversimplification is the first step towards dehumanization, so proudly claiming every facet of our personal identities is a radical act of protest — especially in a nation that has only ever allowed Asian women to take up one single, objectified narrative. We boldly claim every facet of our identity when our humanity is questioned by a stranger yelling slurs through a car window or reducing an entire social justice movement down to stereotypes, we know that this is not the total of who we are because we have already self-defined who we are.
Nuanced and compassionate storytelling, after all, is the best way of restoring humanity to a community that has historically been violently denied it.
The Model Minority Myth Is Misunderstood
Asian Representation Is Not The Solution
Talking About Anti-Asian Hate With My Mom Is Hard
Asian Women & White Sexual Imperialism In America
“A Minor Victory.” Abortion Care Resumes In Three Trigger States ...
The article is being updated as more news about temporary injunctions and restraining orders impacting abortion access comes out. It was originally publish
Inside the Fight for Emergency Contraception in Honduras
Gente Power is a monthly Somos series profiling the Latinx activists, cultural workers, educators, and movement leaders creating change in their communitie
The “Great Replacement” Theory Is the American Way
Several months before Payton S. Gendron carried out a racist mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, which targeted Black patrons, the 18-year
Kevin Samuels’ Death And The Politics Of “Grief Respectability”
In the weeks since Kevin Samuel’s death, there have been various reactions to his passing. Some praised the late YouTube host, a self-proclaimed “datin
As A Black Queer Person, I’m Often Disinvited From The Cookout
I came out to my mom in the middle of a Dunkin’ Donuts. I’ll admit that it wasn’t my ideal place to have the talk. I planned to keep my identit
What Southern Black Women Can Teach Us (And The Country) About Ou...
It was Angela Davis who reminded us that “when Black women win victories, it’s a boost for virtually every segment of society.” It says a lot that Dr
Child Q Is What Happens When Black Girls Are Robbed Of Their Youth
Warning: The following contains graphic details which some readers may find upsetting. This week, a report published by Hackney Council revealed that in 20
Anna Delvey’s Experiences in ICE Detention are Normal—That&...
This month’s release of Inventing Anna, Shonda Rhimes’ new Netflix miniseries about a socialite scammer running through elite circles in New York has i
What We Lose When We Erase Queer Black History
“I didn’t know they were gay!” As a Black queer woman, I'm constantly stumbling upon slightly cracked doors that lead to Black queer life. I cherish
How bell hooks Raised A Generation Of Radical Feminists
R29Unbothered continues its look at Black culture’s tangled history of Black identity, style, and contributions to the culture with ROOTS, our
What Latinxs Are Manifesting for 2022
With the end of yet another strange year comes the opportunity for new intentions, reinventing ourselves, and reimagining our realities. 2020 shook us to t
Why Puerto Rican Christmas Carols Are a Symbol of Patriotism
For all the political limbo Puerto Ricans have endured in the last 500 years, one thing is clear: come Christmas, we’ll cook lechón asado, improvise pat

Sex. Celebrity. Politics. With Teeth
Sex. Celebrity. Politics. With Teeth
Jezebel's Crush of the Week: Bella Hadid in 'Ramy'
Jezebel's Crush of the Week: Jennette McCurdy
Jezebel's Crush of the Week: Bella Hadid in 'Ramy'
Jezebel's Crush of the Week: Jennette McCurdy
The Asian fetish. Asiaphilia. Yellow fever. You've probably heard of these terms before — maybe you can even think of that one Caucasian friend of yours that only ever dates Asian women. A negative stigma exists around individuals suspect of such traits, and I always felt compelled to dig deeper into interracial dating between Asian women and Caucasian men. The issue is really a lot more complex that one would think, and deserves a closer look.
A common conception is this: The appeal of Asian women for Western men largely lies in the fantasy-indulging experience that engenders a feeling of dominance and masculinity which is lacking, or perhaps even threatened, in their own culture. Just look at the funny Charisma Man comic below (click to enlarge). Because Asian women come from a history where they traditionally serve men, the stereotype of the docile and submissive Asian woman feeds this dehumanizing fantasy. The sex industry catering to Westerners is constructed around selling not only the flesh, but what Sheridan Prasso calls the "Asian Mystique...the fantasy of the exotic, indulging, decadent, sensual Oriental who will indulge you and delight you with the decadence and servility that no women in your own culture could." This fetishization of Asian women causes many women to wonder whether a Western suitor is interested in her as a person, or in the expectations surrounding the Asian Mystique.
It's true that independence and power is valued more highly in Western women, whereas Eastern values traditionally emphasize community and social harmony, and are unfortunately more patriarchal. This may influence the behavioral traits of some Asian women. However, men sometimes take this to feel "remasculated" in their interactions and perceptions of Asian women because they can experience feelings of dominance, power, and wealth (real or imagined) — especially in Asia, where some women cater to these fantasies for personal gain, or associate with Western men as a status symbol. There's fantasy built into the idea of dating a Westerner, too, which makes them appealing to Asian women; the stigma goes both ways. On the other hand, there's also a common notion among more affluent Asian women that the only men who hang around chasing women in Asia are just "creepy losers" that can't find a girl back home.
I know, it sounds terrible, doesn't it? While we all know that the "Creepy White Dude" does exist, these notions feed dehumanizing stereotypes that prevent mutual respect, and taint those interracial relationships founded on mutual love and respect due to judgment passed by others. The fact is, each person is attracted to certain characteristics in a prospective mate, whether they are physical, cultural, or behavioral. Who's to say the attraction is based only on fantasy? A bit of fantasy can be beneficial in relationships. It's unfair to pass judgment on a person for race and culture-related characteristics they find desirable based on the color of their skin.
Summer skincare Their Art Deco sugar scrub sloughs off dead skin, and solid body butters, like the grapefruit and May Chang bar with shea butter, smooth everything out.
As I mentioned before, a stigma exists toward Asian women who date Western men, which also casts interracial dating in a poor light. They are condemned as being social climbers, materialistic, and superficial. However, that, too, is a stereotype, and some of the reasons Asian women prefer to date Western men extend beyond perceived social status or physical attraction. Sexism has, in fact, been an integral part of Asian society since its origin, and is still prevalent in Asian societies. Asian women may prefer pairing with Western men because they feel like they are treated more as an equal, and enjoy greater independence in a relationship. Moreso in Asian cultures, men feel threatened when a woman's abilities, talent, and social status exceeds their own. I'm sure there are plenty of Asian and Asian-American men who do not adhere to patriarchal beliefs, but there's no denying the inherent values embedded within certain cultures that may shape a woman's preferences.
There's another prospect to consider: Asian men in Western media have the unfortunate tendency to be depicted as being nerdy, feminine, comical, and shy. That, or kung-fu masters (which I find hot, but perpetuates an annoying stereotype). Older men are portrayed as being conservative and patriarchal. They are often desexualized and portrayed as not belonging in America. Although it's changing, there simply aren't very many positive representations of Asian men in Western culture, and this negative image may very well affect the perceptions of Asian women living in the West.
I've only ever dated one Asian man, and we were teenagers at the time — but it's certainly not because I find Asian men undesirable, or that I felt controlled by men. However, my trend of dating Western men had a lot more to do with the culture around my personal interests. Growing up in Taiwan, most of my Asian peers were much more engrossed in their studies and into mainstream culture than going to punk concerts, watching experimental film, and dressing up like Marie Antoinette. Today, my interests are much more broad, but the long-term relationships I've held in the past decade of my life has precluded further investigation.
What have your experiences of interracial dating been? As an Asian woman, have you ever felt a man was attracted to you for their Asian fantasy? Or, have you ever suffered from the stigma of being an Asiaphile for dating an Asian man or woman? Please share your thoughts.
This post originally appeared on Not Your China Girl . Republished with permission.
Want to see your work here? Email us !

Accessibility links
Skip to main content
Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

NPR 24 Hour Program Stream On Air Now

News
Expand/collapse submenu for News

Culture
Expand/collapse submenu for Culture

Music
Expand/collapse submenu for Music

Podcasts & Shows
Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows

About NPR
Diversity
Organization
Support
Careers
Connect
Press
Ethics

What happens when white women hypersexualize Asian women onscreen NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Elaine Hsieh Chou about her recent essay in Vanity Fair, which addresses how Hollywood perpetuates Asian stereotypes.

What happens when white women hypersexualize Asian women onscreen

Facebook
Twitter
Flipboard
Email

Heard on All Things Considered

Listen · 8:03 8-Minute Listen Add to Playlist

Embed

Lingerie Teen Solo
Porno Threesome Compilation
Teen Young Ls Models Mini

Asian Women White

Report Page