Do you find that others have preconceived ideas about you because you are an Asian woman?

As a child, I was never aware of stereotypes that existed regarding Asians.  Since the community I grew up in had few Asians- those of us who were Asian were usually adopted-I had nothing to be compared to, or at least I never noticed.  In fact, unbeknownst to me I was actually filling many of the Asian stereotypes: I played the violin, I was a good student, I was good at math and science, and I preferred eating rice and noodles.  But these were just things I liked to do and I never equated myself as being “stereotypically Asian”.  Many of my friends enjoyed the same things and they were not Asian and so it never occurred to me that these were stereotypes.

As I have mentioned in previous issues, my period of “enlightenment” regarding Asian-ness occurred in college.  It was in college that I became aware of the various stereotypes that exist for Asian-Americans.

Academically, I have not felt stigmatized by the model-minority stereotype attached to Asians and admittedly have used it to my advantage in certain situations.  Although I can see how it can be problematic, and unfair assumptions can put undue pressure on students.

Socially, I have also become aware of the stereotype of Asian women as being exotic and fetishized.  I have been in dating situations where it becomes clear that I am being pursued simply because of my race and these relationships end shortly.  I am not interested in being viewed as a docile, exotic ornament and I think that once people get to know me, it becomes evident that I am quite the opposite.

While I regret not growing up in a community with a large Asian population, in terms of stereotyping I feel that I was at an advantage because I was allowed to develop my own interests and strengths without feeling that I was supposed to be conforming to a predetermined model.  As a result, I can acknowledge that people might stereotype my actions or interests, but I am comfortable enough with myself to recognize that this is their issue and not something that I need to fret over. 

~ Jessica Medinger

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Recently, a man came up to me and asked very loudly and slowly, “Do you speak English?  Can you understand what I am saying?”  Although I replied, “Yes, I speak English,” he continued to speak in the same tone.  These incidents never fail to remind me that no matter how “normal” and American I may feel, to some people I am a foreigner, an “alien,” simply because of my Asian face. 

Being a recent immigrant with a heavy accent is one of many, but a very prominent stereotype that Asian Americans (along with Latino Americans) face constantly.  Yes, there are immigrants with varying degrees of English language abilities—however,  they are not just Asians, but are people of every color and nationality.  Furthermore, Asian Americans include recent immigrants along with those born and raised here, those who can trace their ancestors to the 1800s, and those adopted at an early age and grew up only speaking English.

Another prevalent stereotype,  specifically for Asian American women, is the China doll.  Also known as the Suzie Wongs, Madame Butterflies, Miss Saigons, the Geisha girls—the prostitutes with a heart of gold, taught to be demure, sacrificing and to sexually please her man by the “Oriental” culture.  This hyper-sexualized and subservient characterization of the “Oriental” women has dominated our culture and continues to have a lingering effect on Asian American women. 

Among the numerous, the “alien” and the “china doll” are two that I personally encounter most frequently. How do I deal with it?  Simple replies such as, “You speak English well too,” or “Can you understand what I am saying?” makes the commentator stop and think.  Fortunately, most people get the point.  Also, I personally try to protest and defy the images by speaking out and being passionate about my beliefs.  At least those who come in contact will see that not all Asian American women are demure.  Reciprocally, I try to be a conscious person and refrain from unfairly categorizing others.  Because I know what if feels like to be pre-judged, I try my best to not pre-judge.

I realize that labeling is everywhere.  I also realize that the preconceptions are ingrained in all of us.  Yet, I also believe that they can be eradicated by personal encounters and efforts.  Not caring enough to challenge it only fortifies and perpetuates the simplification and dehumanization.  For example, by defining Asian Americans in such a flat dimensional image, the diversity is not recognized and along with it, individualism and humanity are denied.

~Whitney Tae-Jing Ning

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Whether a stereotype is positive or negative, stereotype is still a stereotype, which puts all of us into a group. Stereotypes present an uncomfortable place for the international adoptees. I, myself, who is a Korean adoptee, have experienced stereotypes coming from three different directions: the Americans, Korean-Americans, specifically the second generation Koreans, and Koreans in Korea. I am expected to represent all the groups, yet I am not accepted by all three.

While growing up in a white middle-class, the stereotypes made me feel as though no matter how fluent I may be in language and in culture, I was always a foreigner. Being labeled as a foreigner was very frustrating because this was my home. The general stereotype ranged from something as minor as “Asians are smart and hard working” to something as vulgar as being called “Vietnamese whores.” People have also commented on my behavior or my opinions by saying, “Is that an Asian philosophy?” or “Is that a Korean thing?” This made me feel as though who I am has been dismissed and replaced by my skin color.

My skin color was where I placed my insecurities when I was in junior high and high school. I had such thoughts as, “I wonder if he would like me, even though I am Asian?” or “I wonder if I’d be prettier if I wasn’t Asian?” Dating gives a better example of how self-conscience I was of my skin color. In America there are stereotypes for everyone, but what followed me as an Asian female was the exoticism, passivity, subservience, and quietness. Because I hated these labels the most, I believe that my way of fighting those were to date only Asian men.

This experience led me towards trying to fit in with the Korean Americans.  My efforts made me face new stereotypes, which were that I am not a real Korean, and that I am ignorant of my Korean heritage. I was made into an object of pity.
 
When I was in Korea, I received similar comments, but this time without any subtleties. People asked, “What is wrong with you that you can’t speak Korean, what kind of Korean are you?” or “Are you Chinese, Japanese or what?” When I told someone that I am an adoptee, their response was, “Are your American parents nice to you? Do they feed you good food? Have they ever hit you?  I heard that foreigners adopt kids from Korea to make them into servants or one time they adopted a Korean girl so that they can give her organs to their sick birth child.” Some Koreans have a very negative stereotype about Korean adoptees.

I am now 23 years old and what I have learned from these experiences is that my skin color has been actually a blessing in disguise. I learned that my only defense to be not consumed by these stereotypes is to know who I am. These experiences demanded me to know that I am an American, I am a Korean and I am an adoptee, and most importantly I am my own person. Labels are just labels, and I will not let ignorance, whether it’s there’s or mine, control me.

~ Ashley Yong-Soo Lewis