EB 02.11.09

Start: 8:05
Stop: 9:00

Asian Stereotypes and Fetishes in the Queer Community

"The problem is greater than gay Asian male representation; the problem is Asian male representation as a whole, as there is no representation at all in the media that is not stereotypical.
There needs to be someone to promote Asian male aesthetics. I have struggled with this because I know our own standards for what we find attractive are informed, if not completely shaped, by the media. Therefore, how do I find myself attractive when there is no image of Asian males as beautiful to serve as a barometer? The only Asian males who are represented in the media are kung fu fighters and wizened gurus, such as the archetypal “Mr. Miyagi,” portrayed by the recently deceased actor Pat Morita.
What ends up happening with many Asian gay men, especially young gay boys, is that to find themselves attractive, they try to become the equivalent of the Asian female. There is a disproportionate number of Asian drag queens--and while that may seem an extreme example, there must be a latent psychological explanation for this phenomenon that would be consistent with this theory--in order to find oneself desirable in the Western world, the Asian male becomes the equivalent of the exotic Asian female beauty type, a sort of fetish, since there is no Asian male representation of beauty. Many young gay Asian boys become effeminate and androgynous because of their struggle to find representation to support Asian masculinity as desirable. "

-It’s hard to maintain masculinity as an Asian and gay male because most ideals of masculinity are geared towards Caucasian. You can’t really look to a gay Asian male “role model”. It’s hard to reconcile these two identities and find a place where one can find a place to be masculine

General Asian Stereotypes
- Submissive Asian female
- “FOB” desexualized/demasculinating, nerdy male

What is the stance of Asian cultures on homosexuality?
- Some cultures see homosexuality as an “abnormality” – very against it
- Passing on the family name is very important and traditional
- Thailand does accept the “third gender”
- General climate in Asian cultures that gay Asian women are acceptable, but gay Asian men are not
- Gender roles are a lot less flexible and very clearly defined – it doesn’t seem acceptable to “bend” these categories
- Interesting that in Asian pop culture men are generally metrosexual.

Spheres of communities are not just additive when they overlap? The experience of a gay Asian is not purely the experience of the gay community + the Asian community. A unique experience. Do these communities adequately envelop and represent the gay Asians?

Why is it that gay Asian men are more prominent within the media than gay Asian women?
- There is more active prejudice against gay Asian men, which might lead to more media coverage
- There is more PDA between women in Asia that does not have romantic intentions
- It’s more acceptable for a woman to act in a masculine manner without it seeming “abnormal” than for men to act in a feminine manner.
- Gay men seem to be more physically apparent than gay women in general
Is Vassar accepting/supportive of the queer community?
- In comparison to other schools, Vassar is more open and liberal.
- There is a certain level of apathy

How is Vassar different from your high school?
- Vassar at the very least is willing to engage in a dialogue
- Vassar is a “safe space”, but it is idealized and it’s not a reflection of the real world – collegiate atmosphere
- Vassar was accepting in that it wasn’t repressive, but in some ways is very close-minded
- Vassar somehow seems to be geared towards the gay male – gay women almost seem non-existent on campus
- Vassar seems to force its “personality” on its student body – why can’t you be liberal?
- There seem to be certain expectation of Vassar.
- Vassar takes away freedom of choice (to be close minded)

Can we relinquish the values instilled by our cultures?
- It’s hard depending on the context – it’s easier to relinquish the values of a culture when you’re not constantly immersed in it

Interracial dating in the queer community?
- Media portrayal seems that in interracial dating Asian men are the “feminine” counterpart, the bottom, the submissive one
- Because of your race, you can’t be masculine
- Plays into a racial hierarchy (Caucasians are the dominating race)
- In same sex relationship gender roles become confused or lost – race is often used in place of gender roles
- Dominant white role and subservient minority role
- Interesting/odd that there need to be dominant/subversive roles that still try to be gender roles – what does that say? Power roles. People tend to try and reproduce power structure that you commonly see in society.
o By breaking one social convention, you sometimes feel the need to fall back on another