Asian Portrayal in Media
The Desexualization of Asian Men
By Austin Li and Maya Campbell
Nerdy. Geeky. Scrawny. Unattractive. Subservient. Submissive. Gullible.
When asked to describe Asian men in American media, these were amongst the most common answers from Carlmont students.
“As an Asian American male, I have always hated the little representation and poor depictions of Asian men in American media. Like most kids growing up, I looked up to superheroes and TV show characters but rarely did they ever resemble me,” said Marcus Zhang, a junior at Carlmont High School.
When one thinks of the ideal “all American,” they often think of a caucasian male who is courageous, attractive, charismatic, and popular. Such portrayals are further strengthened and reinforced by American media, where white males are often cast as the lead and center roles. However, Asians never seem to fit this role. Until recently, the inclusion of Asian actors in star positions has been sporadic.
The portrayal of Asian men in cinema has always been a subject of controversy. Ever since Asian Americans were first displayed on the big screen during the 1910s, their depictions have reflected an ethnocentric rather than authentic perception of East Asian culture. An ethnocentric view is a view driven by biases and prejudice where one’s culture is evaluated accordingly to the customs and expectations of another culture.
Breakfast At Tiffany's
In the media, Asians are often stereotypically depicted by white actors, a concept known as “yellow facing.”
For example, the character Mr. Yunioshi in the 1961 film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” shows how racist depictions of Asian characters can be. In the primarily white movie, Mr. Yunioshi, played by Mickey Rooney, a white actor, was depicted as a Japanese threat.
He had over-the-top stereotypical “Asian” facial features such as large buckteeth, small slanted eyes, and thick glasses. In addition, he is extremely clumsy and bumbling, characteristics that inaccurately represent Asian Americans.
Sixteen Candles
Even when played by Asian actors, Western directors and producers have found ways to slip biases and racism into the film industry.
In the 1984 Rom-Com film, Sixteen Candles, the character Long Duk Dong is a cultivation of racial stereotypes. The name itself mocks traditional East Asian names, and similarly to Mr. Yunioshi, Dong’s character is over-exaggerated and racist. In addition, Dong is depicted as an undesirable and sexually inept loser as he is constantly rejected by the protagonist.
A History of Prejudice
The reasoning behind such depictions dates back to the 1800s. Shortly after immigrating to the U.S., Asians were quickly vilified. Through the lens of the white American population, Asians were perceived as a threat to the American job market. In fear of losing their jobs, white Americans created stereotypes and racist perceptions in order to lessen the popularity of Asian immigrants and their ability to obtain American jobs
One of the most significant examples of White America’s attempt to exclude Asian immigrants was The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Signed by President Chester A. Arthur, the act served to restrict the immigration of Chinese laborers. Not only was it the first immigration law, but to this day, the only law to have restricted immigration based on race.
The act was eventually repealed in 1943, however, many Asians find it shocking that Chinese people were outright denied entry to the U.S. because of their race.
“I never learned about that (Chinese Exclusion) in history class, that’s pretty messed up, honestly, I should ask my parents about their experience with it,” said Kyle Chan, a Carlmont junior.
Another example was a 1902 pamphlet distributed in San Francisco that described the frustrations workers had towards Asians “invading” their industries. They felt that by stealing American jobs, the inclusion of Asians in America was disrupting their standard of living.
Even today, such ideas are still prevalent, as Chinese people are continuously being accused and bashed for “stealing” American jobs.
“I remember hearing stories about my great grandparents and the struggles they faced when migrating to the US from Hong Kong. I was told that they were often faced racial oppression and were segregated, causing them to feel a sense of alienation. It is crazy how although things have improved, some of the same issues from the 1900s are still prevalent today,” Chan said.