From: nbyram@ocf.berkeley.edu (Nicholas Byram)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american
Subject: Re: Surviving in a White Man's world
Date: 17 Aug 1992 19:29:51 GMT
Organization: Berkeley Communist Indoctrination Facility, extension
NNTP-Posting-Host: planecrash.berkeley.edu

In article <1992Aug12.150550.10596@inmet.camb.inmet.com> lrq@fanny (Robert Quan) writes:
>
>  I've been reading all the interesting subjects in S.C.A.A. and decided
>to offer my two cents.  Hopefully, it won't stir up too much flame.  But
>then again, it's only my opinion.
>
>    Point 1:  Why is it that the media always associate an asian as a
>              foreigner and not an American.  There are Orientals in this
>              country that can trace their roots back to the 1800's.  Yet,
>              when an oriental meets a non oriental, the non oriental always
>              ask "what country he/she is from" and "compliments him/her on
>              excellent English"

Because, quite frankly, most media is still oriented (no pun intended) 
toward the Eastern or Midwestern heartland. Entertainment often comes
out of Southern California, but media out of New York or Washington or
Chicago.  While there is a tradition going back to the 1800's, it is 
only in the Western United States.  This is not good or bad, mind you, 
this simply is.

>    Point 2:  Why do American Society stereotype Asian males as nothing more
>              than wimpy and nerdy book worms.  We asian males are certainly
>              not wimpy.
>
>    Point 3:  Why do white men think that they are superior in looks and 
>              physique to oriental males.  It is all media developed 
>              stereotypes.

Hmmm. I have met so many mealy-mouthed, hypocritical "activist" types snivel
about said stereotypes, yet I cannot help but notice how accurate the 
stereotypes were for those particular people. My advice? Distance yourself
from some (in fact, many) of those who purport to speak for you.

>    Point 4:  Why do the media make a big hype about all the Japanese owned
>              buildings and businesses.  It is well documented that the
>              British own twice as much as the Japanese in the U.S.  Yet,
>              we never hear about a British firm buying up a business or
>              building.

Having worked as a temp in both sorts of firms, I would say that much of 
that reflects anxiety about employers--a "corporate culture shock", if you 
will.  For Japanese employers are often markedly different in their management
style than British or American firms.  What aspects are better or worse,
I cannot honestly say yet. But the anxiety is there.

>    Last point, what steps should be taken to correct all these falsified and
>negative stereotypes.

Hard to say. Definitely, discounting the present media bias would help
(as if the 1992 campaigns to date did not make said bias palpable in some
ways), but otherwise, the changes must come from within.

Hope this brings the arena down...

>          Robert Quan (lrq@fanny.wash.inmet.com)


Nick Byram 
Academic Multi-culturalism is the New Communist Propaganda.
Peel away the "People of Color" rhetoric, and we only find one color--Red.

Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american