A Practical Guide to Racism by C.H. Dalton (Library Research)

According to Dalton, the human race is not an actual race, but rather a species divided into several species that are grouped based off of physical appearances.  Dalton states that "Racism is the dislike of another race as a whole, or of another person solely because he is a member of a certain race" (Dalton 3).  He goes on to explain that racism oversimplifies the differences in characteristics among individuals.  Later exclaiming that:

Stereotypes can be very useful in our everyday social interactions and decision-making.  They are actually a kind of survival instinct---a crude form of received inductive reasoning that can help us make snap judgements in situations where we do not know all the facts. (Dalton 4)

He categorizes the rest of the book by different ethnic groups and the specific stereotypes (and crude pictures) that label each one.  All in all, he claims that racism is hating a specific individual on the basis of their race, along with stereotypes that feed into the assumption of the person.

Perceptions of Asian American Students Website

http://www.natcom.org/CommCurrentsArticle.aspx?id=963

This website goes to talk about the common model minority of Asian American students.  The ones being shy, nerdy, socially awkward foreigners who cannot speak English.  It goes further to explain the negative effects of such stereotypes.  This includes "psychological, emotional, and social costs for Asian American students, such as studying harder and longer, foregoing social life, enduring loneliness and alienation, and experiencing extreme depression and stress" (Zhang).  When people see an Asian American student, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the assumption that the individual is extremely smart and works hard.  From personal experience, this usually causes others to expect more from the Asian American individual, giving them much more pressure than to other people.

Zhang then goes on to explaining the effects of the stereotype that Asian Americans are poor-speaking foreigners, and thus are socially awkward.  She explains, "peer exclusion often happens to those who are perceived as outsiders or nerds with inadequate language, communication, and social skills. People are more likely to initiate friendship with those who are perceived as similar, good at self-disclosure, and having good social and communication skills" (Zhang).  Often in movies, we see Asian Americans being associated with the uncool crowd in school.  This is due to the fact that other groups view Asian Americans as people with completely different customs and habits.  The lack of similarities between Asians and other ethnic groups creates gaps in relationships.

Funny Asian Stereotype Music Video

CAUTION: May have some inappropriate words!

My Year of Meats: Jane vs. Akiko

Right from the start Ozeki begins to portray the differences between cultures using Jane and Akiko's lives as examples. Jane represents the white woman (even though she is partially Japanese), whereas Akiko is seen as the Asian American woman.  Parallel to their stereotypes, Jane is an independent woman who has no husband, and can marry and divorce whoever and whenever she wants.  She is able to maintain her own income with a steady job, without a man by her side.  On the other hand, Akiko closely follows the Asian American stereotype.  Before meeting her husband, John, Akiko had a steady job, however, after getting married, she was forced to quit.  The only job she has is to be the obedient, submissive, and quiet housewife, who essentially lives to please John.  She has no freedom as to where she wants to go or what she wants to do. 

My Year of Meats: Chapter 7

Quote:

The people of the yellow race have slanting eyes, coarse black hair, flat faces and short skulls...the people of the yellow race living on the islands of Japan have made more progress than any other branch of the race.  They are eager to learn how the white men do all kinds of work, and they been wise enough to adopt many of the customs of the white race. (Ozeki 150)

Thoughts:
I was extremely angry when I read this part of the chapter.  From the way the words are worded, it sounds as if the Asian American race were inferior to the white race.  That Asian Americans are extremely successful and more progressed today because they have learned all that they know from "white men".  It sounds that the white man always does the right thing, even when it comes to their customs, and that every other ethnicity should learn from them.

Asian Stereotypes from KevJumba's Perspective

Asian Americans Face New Stereotypes in Ads Website

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/asian-americans-face-new-stereotype-in-ads/2011/08/11/gIQAiMzvZJ_story.html

This article brings to light the obvious Asian American stereotype that is constantly seen in the media.  It talks about the recent advertisements that have used Asian American subjects to portray intelligent individuals.  Although this is categorized as a stereotype, it sure is a flattering one.  Here are some examples of Asian American stereotypes in recent advertisements as seen on the website:

●Staples advertises its computer-repair service with images of laptops flying like gulls into one of its stores. When one of the laptops crash-lands, the fix-it technician who comes to its “rescue” is an Asian American.
●CVS’s TV ads feature a lab-coated pharmacist of Asian descent dispensing advice about medication to a baffled Caucasian lady.
●A mother and her teenage son shopping at Best Buy learn that the store offers “Geek Squad” techies, who are packaged and displayed like life-size action figures on the store’s shelves. One of the tech guys is an Asian American.
●IBM’s commercials feature brainy IT consultants, including a young Asian American woman who talks up the company’s efforts to create “a smarter planet.”(Farhi)

My Year of Meats: Chapter 9

Quote:
After reading Akiko's fax to Jane, Jane gets into an argument with Kenji about what to do. 

"Oh my God.  He beats her."
"So she says."
"I knew he was evil."
"So you've said."
"Yeah. but I never imagined anything like this...."
"Takagi, I don't know whether you can take this at face value.  I mean this woman sounds slightly deranged to me."
I think I must have gasped.  He backed off a bit.
"What I mean is simply that a normal Japanese woman would never write a letter like this." (Ozeki 228)

Thoughts:
I was completely shocked when I read this part of the book.  The fact that Kenji thinks that Akiko is "deranged" because she wrote that letter to Jane blows my mind.  How can anyone be deranged for writing a letter that talks about his or her personal life?  Deranged would be the last word I would use to describe Akiko; "Brave" sounds like a better description of her.

Moving on from Akiko, I thought that Kenji was the most racist, disgusting pig!  He essentially is saying to Jane that Japanese women should never talk about themselves to another stranger because they are suppose to be quiet and always obey their husbands.  Even though Akiko is writing to Jane about how she is getting beaten by John, Kenji seems to believe that that fact is not as important as keeping up with her role as an Asian wife!  It is unbelievable!  Asian women, despite traditions, should not always be quiet and submissive, especially when they are endangered!  The more I read this book and see these Asian stereotypes (especially of women) the less I like Asian men, or men in general. 

Survey

Stereotypes in the Media

1) What is your ethnicity? 

White and American India	1
African American	1
Asian: Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Indian	9
Caucasian:	2
Hispanic/White	1
Mexican/Vietnamese	1
Mexican	1

2) Ethnicity is accurately portrayed in the media. True or False?

True	1
False	20

3) Asian Americans are usually smart, shy, and obedient. 

Agree	10
Strongly Agree
Disagree	5
Strongly Disagree	3

4) Have you ever believed in a racial stereotype towards a specific ethnicity? Yes or No.

Yes	18
no	2

5) Do you think Asian American actors/actresses have a long way to go to get leading roles that portrays their ethnicity in a positive way or break way from typical stereotypes?   Yes/No

Yes	18
no	3

6) On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you rate media in terms of affirming stereotypes?  (5 being "Strongly Agree")             

1	0
2	2
3	2
4	12
5	5

7) How do you think your ethnicity is being portrayed in the media?

*4 anonymous individuals: wrongly 

Chinese: smart, selfish shy and rich

Mexican: Yes

*I individual simply answer yes

Vietnamese: nothing special

Vietnamese: smart, nerd, shy

African-American: dumb troublemakers who speak poorly

Asian: No idea

White and American Indian: Good and bad, Whites are portrayed as good and Indians are portrayed as bad

Indian Asian: Not so good, they are seen as taxi drivers, have heavy accents, or work in liquor stores

Korean:   Not represented well

White:   Portrayed as “normal”; in positions of power

Caucasian: is also Jewish and thought they are poorly portrayed in the media but also think it is "so-so" and depends on the heritage.

Asian: "smart-nerdy, weak, anything related to school"

Hispanic/white: "harsh in news, really stereotypical in movies and tv shows it is acceptable and funny because it doesn't matter."

Chinese: over sexualized

8) Do you think stereotyping is okay in the case of comedy?

Yes	7
no	6

9) Why do you think there are very few Asian American actors/actresses taking lead roles in popular Hollywood movies?                   

·         More emerging

·         Culture, Ask the Director, Yes

·         Hollywood is marketed to Whites and Blacks

·         Asian parents don’t want their kids to be actors

·         Culture is not used to relating with Asians (minority)

·         Perhaps directors not looking for Asians

·         Asians don’t make money

·         Overt racism on stereotyping

·         They stick to their own movies

·         White people hate us unless we’re playing oversexaulized roles

·         People prefer white actors/actresses  (2 people said this)

·         Maybe they are not attractive to viewers

10) Popular Asian stereotypes in Hollywood films are: Asians are nerdy, can’t drive right, good in martial arts and have heavy English accents.  What do you think of these stereotypes? 

Yes	4
no	3

11) How does the stereotyping of American families in My Year of Meats make you feel?

·         uncomfortable; fine, all people are prone to stereotyping
·         Cannot relate because I have never felt stereotypes
·         Annoying because they think Americans only eat meat which makes them better looking
·         Upsetting, but common in the media
·         Trying to come across as perfect and ideal to the Japanese audience
·         angry, scared, anxious and sad
·         usual propaganda
·         ridiculous
·         attempted to catch nuclear family but not accurate portrayal
·         bad
·         sad
·         they prefer: white, perfect, family oriented individuals

12) If you were an actor/actress and your new role/character was portraying a major stereotype would you feel any type of resentment?  

Yes	9
no	5

· 

·          

13) If you were a director, would you include racial stereotyping?

Yes	5
no	5

14) If you were to create your own movie for the media, would you continue the stereotype or put a stop to the stereotypes?

Stop them	10
Continue	1

My Year of Meats: Chapter 7

Quote:

I have an honest, earnest face.  It's the Asian-American Woman thing---we're reliable, loyal, smart but nonthreatening.  This is why we get to do so much newscasting in America.  It's a convenient precedent.  The average American is trained to believe what I tell him. (Ozeki 157)

Thoughts:
So often we assume that racial stereotypes are always negative characterstics about a group of individuals, but this quote tells another tale.  Here Jane is explaining the benefits of having Japanese heritage, for others view Asian-American women as "reliable, loyal, smart, but nonthreatening".

As an Asian American woman myself, I have to admit that this stereotype is quite true.  I guess the media so often portrays Asian women as quiet and submissive, with only one goal: to please our husbands.  In the Chinese culture, I was taught that men were more valued than women and that in every way women are more inferior to men.  (I know what you are thinking, but that is a totally different topic that I have too much to say.)  As a result, many Asian women grow up to be their husband's helper, by becoming reliable, loyal, smart, and nonthreatening.  Plus, you usually never see an Asian American woman robbing a bank on TV with her Asian visor on.  (OK, bad joke written on the wrong blog).  

The Wind

That is how I see Him,
no matter where He is.
I know He's watching for me,
even when I slip.

Some may say I'm crazy,
when I say I feel Him with me,
but I know He's right beside me,
especially when I'm lonely.

I can't ever see Him physically,
but I know He's with me for eternity.

The Poem

I suck at writing poems,
so I will make this rhyme.
Now I am starting over,
so you can hear a chime.
This isn't very good,
but at least it passed back time.
Now please go read this website,
or else you are a slime.

P.S. I have no future as a poet,
but don't worry,
I will be just fine.

Asian Stereotypes Video

My Year of Meats: Chapter 3

Quote:
Right from the beginning of Chapter 3, Ozeki starts out the chapter by describing her Japanese coworkers with similar imagery to that of Asian stereotypes.  She describes Suzuki as having

mere slits, as though someone had taken a razor blade and drawn bloodless incisions into the swollen skin.  You could never tell if they were open or shut, or it he was watching you.  'He has a great eye,' I liked to say to Americans and watch them glance dubiously at him and wonder, Where? (Ozeki 33)

Thoughts:
Although I have to say that most Asian Americans do have the round-face and small-eyes stereotype, the last sentence of this quote really made me upset.  The fact that others describe his small-eyes as something you cannot tell whether or not they were open or shut implies the fact that you cannot see what Asian Americans are doing, and thus they are sneaky.  Ozeki goes further by sarcastically emphasizing the fact that Asian eyes are so small that you cannot even tell that they have eyes.  Although this is not a major issue compared to other major problems, these stereotypes essentially dehumanizes Asian Americans.  The jokes about Asian eyes basically categorizes Asian Americans as less than human because we do not have the same features as most people.

Amazing Grace

This poem is completely irrelevant to my topic, but I thought I'd share it.  It is about my faith as a Christian, and my relationship with God.

Even as I laid

hurting in the dust

He came to help me quickly

so my heart wouldn't rust

He held me so closely

until I could bear no more

and even when I deserted Him

He only longed for me more

Through all that pain and trouble

He loved me as I was

Scarred and gruesomely hurting

He bought me at a cost

No matter what I said or did

His love would never change

He gave me all he had

and still I brought Him pain

Now I call Him "Father"

the one who died to set me free

I am forgiven

because of that day on Calvary

"I'm sorry for the way I've been

and I promise I will try to change

for you are my one and only

after you, I was never the same"

How Americans view Asians:

Asian Americans are...

When you think of an Asian American, a few images probably pops into your head.

1) A nerdy kid with his face buried in an Calculus book.

2) An Asian husband yelling at his submissive wife.

3) An Asian mom constantly yelling at her children.

4) A greedy man that does whatever it takes to make money.

5) A perfect, quiet wife who does whatever her husband tells her to.

These five images probably are the beginning to a long list.  Many people have a common view of Asian Americans that have been influenced solely on their upbringing as well as the social media. 

Negative Stereotyping of Asian Americans Website

http://modelminority.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:negative-stereotyping-of-asian-americans&catid=44:media&Itemid=56

In this website, "Negative Stereotyping of Asian Americans", the author Mahdzan describes the typical view of an Asian American that is consistently portrayed in the media.  He thorougly describes the image as "newly arrived immigrants who speak fortune cookie (broken) English and cannot assimilate with other members of the American society. Other negative depictions include greedy Asian bandits out to destroy white civilization and defy its man-made laws, and Asian women who are weak, passive and allow themselves to be sexually and emotionally abused by men" (Mahdzan). 

He goes further as to break down the stereotypes between Asian American men and women.  From the rare Hollywood movies that actually has an Asian American character, Mahdzan discovered that the men are usually portrayed as greedy, dumb (compared to their counterparts), and undesirable as a husband.  All the while Asian American women are portrayed as either the "China Doll", a woman who is "supposedly sexually active, exotic, overly feminine and eager to please" (Mahdzan) or the "Dragon Lady" who is "who is perceived as seductive, desirable but at the time she is untrustworthy" (Mahdzan).


Growing up in an Asian American community as well as growing up watching these movies, I can understand why some may portray Asians in this manner.  Although I believe it is absolutely rude and unnecessary, there are true facts that are attached to each prejudice.  Many people of one ethnicity tends to emulate the same characteristics due to their similar backgrounds; however, this is not always the case.  Although there is some truth behind these stereotypes, much of these characteristics only apply to certain Asian Americans.  Every individual, no matter the ethnicity, is completely different.  Although these stereotypes may seem harmless in the media, Americans may believe what they see and soon come to consensus that Asian Americans are not as intelligent and strong-willed as another race, thus making them inferior.