Are Asian American women used as easy diversity?

[kimpossible]

I'd like to get FEMALE discussion going on this topic. I think there's enough male-driven conversation on the this all over the 'net.

Do you feel Asian females are used as tools to promote easy diversity? By easy diversity, I mean a mainstream-palateable model minority female used as a buffer so that companies can technically say they promote diversity. If there is an Asian in an advertisement, it's usually a female, usually without an Asian male present. How do you feel about this - whether agree or disagree with this sentiment?

[moser]

It seems to be the case in most, if not all, non-white groups, though it's more obvious with APAs. A holdover of the "F*ck the women, f*ck over the men" attitude, I guess.

[nola]

Yes.

Men always present a threat (to white male hegemony) and we are seen as less threatening.

[kasia]

this is a first. maybe perhaps in the entertainment field, where it is easier for the mainstream society to accept asian women as sex kittens and just ignore asian males. and maybe in the service industry, they'd be more willing to hire asian waitresses, strippers, etc., for similar reasons. however, i can't say that we have been used as a buffer in another field. take the legal field, i think it has been harder for me to be a litigator both because i am female and because i am asian. both indicate that i would be less aggressive in the courtroom. i guess i can't really speak for other fields, but my observation has been that we haven't been given a bigger break.

[rice cracker]

Definitely in commercials, I see a lot more Asian women than Asian men used to promote products. More often than not, these women are paired with white men. In news programs, Asian female anchors again outnumber Asian males in the same field. Movies, sitcoms, dramas, Asian women portray "normal" characters rather than stereotypical characters (not to say plenty aren't catering to stereotypes) than Asian males.

[applehead]

i've seen that in commercials.
not a lot but i've seen some asian
females coupled with non asian men.
i don't really see it as the producers/companies
using them as an attempt to promote diversity.
maybe if i saw a series of commercials
from the same companies and each commercial
has an actor/actress of a different ethnic origin
then it's a bit different.
but even if that was the case, i don't really mind it.
i guess one asian female is better than zero.

(i was also surprised to see a commercial for
our local cable network, probably aired just in
the nyc areas, starring an asian man with a clear
chinese accent. i think that might be the company's
idea of appealing to the large asian population
in nyc.)

[moJo]

I'd like to get FEMALE discussion going on this topic. I think there's enough male-driven conversation on the this all over the 'net.

Do you feel Asian females are used as tools to promote easy diversity? By easy diversity, I mean a mainstream-palateable model minority female used as a buffer so that companies can technically say they promote diversity. If there is an Asian in an advertisement, it's usually a female, usually without an Asian male present. How do you feel about this - whether agree or disagree with this sentiment?
agree. i notice more and more, the lack of asian american men in the visual media. if i see asian men in tv commercials, they tend to be middle-aged or seniors in health care commercials or something really bland, usually paired with older asian females. i think i see youngish, attractive asian american guys in media mostly in print ads for macy's or mervyn's or something. i think those are regional ads, too. are marketing groups that fearful of putting asian male faces out there? it sucks.

if diversity is needed, add a black or latino person, usually male. need even more diversity? throw in an asian woman. :rolleyes:

[nola]

Whites fear the financial power of the Asian male otherwise known as yellow peril.

[SunWuKong]

this is a female discussion! if you don't have a vagina, do not post!

[kasia]

but outside of the entertainment industry, do you ladies really think that we're given a bigger break b/c we're perceived as less threatening? i have a hard time believing that.

[kimpossible]

but outside of the entertainment industry, do you ladies really think that we're given a bigger break b/c we're perceived as less threatening?

no. i was thinking marketing and advertising.

[mslady]

i would definitely like to see more asian males. and i'm a little tired of seeing white guys paired up with asian girls. making white guys think they can hook up with me so easily because they see a bunch of commercials. what's wrong with showing a few more asian men??!!