sexism and racism. A double whammy?

[Cipherous]

I know that as an Asian American male, I see racist bigots all the time. However, if I was to put myself in the shoes of an Asian American female...I'd say I'd face more discrimination due to my sex. This is apparent whenever you open a maxim magazine or you see some music video.

In this male dominated world, how do you see yourself? Does it dissuade you from what you want in life?

How do you think others, whether be it males and non Asians, see you?

how do you think being Asian and being a woman is different from being a white woman or a Black woman?

[Sledge]

After finding mm.com about a month ago I went on a berserk IMing interview spree. I asked just about everyone on my friends list about their views on the relationship between Asianness and sexuality.

I don't have a definite opinion about this, having spent very little time as a woman, so I'll volunteer my white female friend's instead: she thought a big part of racism against Asian women came from the fact that, deep down, every single woman is kind of a catty bitch. (Her words, not mine!) Asian women are perceived to be more attractive (or dateable) than white women, in general, and there's apparently a lot of resentment about that. "Never underestimate the power of female jealousy," she told me.

[shy]

I don't have a definite opinion about this, having spent very little time as a woman, so I'll volunteer my white female friend's instead: she thought a big part of racism against Asian women came from the fact that, deep down, every single woman is kind of a catty bitch. (Her words, not mine!) Asian women are perceived to be more attractive (or dateable) than white women, in general, and there's apparently a lot of resentment about that. "Never underestimate the power of female jealousy," she told me.

hmm... well, i'm not too sure i agree with your female friend. sure she is right that jealousy exist as it does with all humans. women, male, asian, non-asian... you name it! i think, however, she should be careful with her theory as it's getting tiresome for many mature women to hear the 'catty bitch' generalization.

it gets to the point where even a woman who has true reasons for being upset at another woman is blamed for just being irrational and being a jealous, catty bitch.

most women i know who use this theory are ones that have some major insecurity issues (not saying that your friend has them... i don't know her, but just in my experience, that's what i've observed - sooner or later, after saying something like that, they prove their insecurities in a really ugly way).

[coagulated fat]

I agree with shy! I'm not a jealous, catty bitch, and most women I know aren't either. Your female friend's theory sucks and is not worth repeating.

[Cipherous]

I agree with shy! I'm not a jealous, catty bitch, and most women I know aren't either. Your female friend's theory sucks and is not worth repeating.

Ok, then please explain why I am so jealous of you!!!!!

*scratches at CF

[coagulated fat]

Ok, then please explain why I am so jealous of you!!!!!

*scratches at CF
Because you're a guy and all guys are jealous, catty bitches. Obviously.

[Cipherous]

Because you're a guy and all guys are jealous, catty bitches. Obviously.

Ok, I am lying I am not jealous. I just had 4 donuts and the sugar must've corrupted me for that moment in time when I typed the previous post.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

After finding mm.com about a month ago I went on a berserk IMing interview spree. I asked just about everyone on my friends list about their views on the relationship between Asianness and sexuality.

I don't have a definite opinion about this, having spent very little time as a woman, so I'll volunteer my white female friend's instead: she thought a big part of racism against Asian women came from the fact that, deep down, every single woman is kind of a catty bitch. (Her words, not mine!) Asian women are perceived to be more attractive (or dateable) than white women, in general, and there's apparently a lot of resentment about that. "Never underestimate the power of female jealousy," she told me.

Uh...Asian women are perceived to be more attractive and datable than white women? Where do you get this idea, outside of isolated deviant or asiaphile circles? It's pretty obvious to me that the vast majority of American media still portrays white females and males as the most desirable. And once again, hispanic as well as black women get more positive (as well as negative) coverage, or coverage period, over asian women. Asians (male or female) by virtue of 'model minority' status and small percentage in numbers still have the least exposure by far.

[shy]

Uh...Asian women are perceived to be more attractive and datable than white women? Where do you get this idea, outside of isolated deviant or asiaphile circles? It's pretty obvious to me that the vast majority of American media still portrays white females and males as the most desirable. And once again, hispanic as well as black women get more positive (as well as negative) coverage, or coverage period, over asian women. Asians (male or female) by virtue of 'model minority' status and small percentage in numbers still have the least exposure by far.

i think Sledge was only describing what he heard from a WM and did mention this was not his own words.

[shy]

This is apparent whenever you open a maxim magazine or you see some music video.

i try my best not to let media lead me... it's not easy to do but as i get older, i do find it easier. besides... i'll face reality right now. my body is made to look skinny like those run-way models. when i work out, i put on lean mass pretty easily. my role models would probably be athletes instead of models/entertainment celebs.

In this male dominated world, how do you see yourself? Does it dissuade you from what you want in life?

i know sexism exists but i think where i live, i am pretty lucky to not have to face it on a daily basis. i do, however, think it appalling how much more i do experience it online. but for the most part, i totally do not let it dissuade me from what i want in life. that would be a shame on my part... i'd rather not play victim to such negative attitudes. even though the human side of me can and sometimes do get hurt by it... but i try to just keep on forging forwards and not backwards.

How do you think others, whether be it males and non Asians, see you?

aggressive, outspoken, and probably bull-headed at times. lol! in all honesty, i don't really think about it that often.

how do you think being Asian and being a woman is different from being a white woman or a Black woman?

that's a tough question. i didn't answer this thread right away because i really had to think about it.

well, to be honest, i think everyone's race/ethnicity and nationality (where they were raise), in conjunction with their positive and negative experiences and how they dealt with them (how they allowed them to shape their attitudes) to make them unique and different in their own way.

i have often said that one should not always see 'colour' first. and perhaps some people felt that i meant 'race shouldn't matter'. well, race does matter. i only meant that when judging some one and being on the verge of generalizing/stereotyping, that's when seeing the person's race as most important to be wrong because they are viewing the person's race in a deconstructive way.

of course... race is very important! it's who we are regardless if one is white, asian, black, etc. it's great to be proud of our heritage and our background... just so long as we don't forget that there's more to us then just our race.

anyway, the only thing i see different between me and one of another race is that we probably have different upbringings and traditions.

[Sledge]

Uh...Asian women are perceived to be more attractive and datable than white women? Where do you get this idea, outside of isolated deviant or asiaphile circles? It's pretty obvious to me that the vast majority of American media still portrays white females and males as the most desirable. And once again, hispanic as well as black women get more positive (as well as negative) coverage, or coverage period, over asian women. Asians (male or female) by virtue of 'model minority' status and small percentage in numbers still have the least exposure by far.

I don't really buy into it either, but I can understand why somebody would attribute a rival's success to her race.

[hooligan]

there's another aspect that you're forgetting, classism. discrimination based on how much you earn and your family's background.

so, if you were female, poor, and asian. it'll be a triple whammy.

[mr. x]

count how many asian women u see with white guys in movies/tv shows/etc. and then count how many black women (or any other ethnicity) u see with white guys

[AngryABCGirl]

I've gotten a lot of sexism from Asian men, mainly older relatives who think I'm below them because I don't have a penis. Doesn't happen too often though. However I think race and gender go hand in hand in determining how people are treated. I've taken a lot of flak from non-Asians or suprised people because I'm not how people would percieve an Asian women to be, although I wouldn't raise any hairs if I were another ethnicity. A lot of people out there will take a challenge from an Asian woman more offensively because of their percieved notions.

[shy]

speaking of sexism, here's something interesting that just happened to me a couple of days ago...

my uncle (one of the youngest seven on my father's side), whom i never see, calls me the other day to wish me and my husband a merry christmas and happy new year.

he asks me if i know i'm having a girl or boy... i tell him we don't know because we'd like to keep it a surprise and we really don't care either way so long as the baby is healthy.

he then tells me that it's better to have a girl. because girls always still with their family where as boys get a girlfriend and stop visiting their family, blah, blah, blah...

it's not the worst thing i've heard but i thought it was a slam on both women and men. he made the woman sound so domesticated and then men sound cold-hearted and insensitive.

[kitty]

A little unsure about what this thread is about entirely... so many questions.

I identify more as Asian than as a woman, but that's not usually the case with women of colour, so I understand. That's why the feminist movement is largely a white movement.

As far as this theory about the feminist movement being fueled by catty bitchiness... o.O I shake my head at your friend, because it's opinions like that that totally degrade the feminist movement. If you can dismiss it so readily, you can't take any of the issues seriously.

Personally, I think the reason why I'm more interested in the Asian/Asian American community is because I think it's more ignored, unheard and generally not really as political. There are quite a few laws and guidelines out to try and work towards gender equality, but we're just starting to scratch the surface of raising *awareness* of what Asian Americans face. For me, it just makes more sense that I would then feel more discriminated against for being Asian.