Fetishism

The ‘Model Minority Myth’ is the belief that Asian Americans demonstrate a financial, educational, and successful life, dismissing the struggles of the Asian American experience. While these are positive associations for Asians, this stereotyping creates a divide with other marginalized groups. Sociologist William Petersen popularized this belief in 1966, comparing Japanese Americans to African Americans with success stories. By popularizing this theory, it diminishes the struggles of both marginalized communities and creates racial tension between Asians and other racial groups.

Model Minority Myth

Fetishism is the harmful reduction of individuals to their race and gender. In the United States, Asian women can be fetishized and stereotyped as submissive, quiet, and exotic. The fetishism of Asian women reduces them to merely sexual objects, invalidating the individual’s complex and unique characteristics that comprise their individuality. American GI’s and American tourists who travel to Asian countries may participate in sex tourism, contributing to the idea that Asian women are only sexual objects. The association of Asian countries and sex workers devalues the country and its citizens entirely.

The image above is an article published by William Peterson, who stereotyped Japanese Americans as successful and determined. Peterson described these other demographic groups as “problem minorities,” which further created a disparity between Asian Americans and other demographics.

The disparities between Asian Americans and other groups can be observed through the LA Riots and media coverage of the tensions between Koreans and Black Americans in 1992. Although tensions existed and continue to exist between African Americans and Asian Americans, white supremacy influences this division through the model minority myth. The racial hierarchies that are placed between these communities imply that some racial groups are superior to others, minimizing the struggles of all minority groups.

Misconceptions Due to Model Minority Myth

There are several misconceptions that are believed due to the model minority myth. For instance, Asian Americans can be observed as a singular, monolithic demographic rather than a diverse group of individuals.

The U.S. Census Bureau illustrates the geographical differences in where Asian Americans' cultural heritage originates from.

The U.S. Census Bureau illustrates the specific type of ethnicities that comprise of the Asian American community.

Another example includes the myth that Asian Americans do not experience discrimination or systemic racism. The increase in anti-Asian hate crimes and negative experiences after COVID-19 demonstrates the discrimination that Asian Americans faced in recent years.

Of the minority groups surveyed through the Pew Research Center, Asian Americans have a greater percentage of experiencing discrimination in comparison to other groups.

Recent Media/Trends

The impact of COVID-19 largely affects elderly populations in the Asian American community through hate crimes and negative experiences. This demographic of individuals is vulnerable due to limited English proficiency, technological difficulties, and a decreased likelihood of reporting. The Stop AAPI Hate organization discovered that 57.6% of reported incidents involved harassment towards elderly populations, aged 60 and above. These older populations are reported to have experienced physical assault and avoidance or shunning in comparison to individuals below the age of 60.

Sources

Fetishism A Sociologist’s View On The Hyper-Sexualization Of Asian Women In American Society. (2021). NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/2021/03/19/979340013/a-sociologists-view-on-the-hyper-sexualization-of-asian-women-in-american-societ

Model Minority Myth Frances K, W. (2016). 50 Years Later, Challenging the “Model Minority Myth” Through #ReModelMinority. NBC News; NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/50-years-later-challenging-model-minority-myth-through-remodelminority-n493911 Jin, C. H. (2021). 6 Charts That Dismantle The Trope Of Asian Americans As A Model Minority. NPR.org; NPR. https://www.npr.org/2021/05/25/999874296/6-charts-that-dismantle-the-trope-of-asian-americans-as-a-model-minority

Recent Media/Trends Jeung, et al. (2022). Anti-Asian Hate, Social Isolation, and Mental Health among Asian American Elders during COVID-19. Stop AAPI Hate. https://stopaapihate.org/2022/05/24/elder-report-2022/