The Portrayal Of Asian Americans Stereotyped In The Media

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Part 1: Unfortunately, it is quite common to see Asians and Asian Americans stereotyped in the media. They are often portrayed in roles that emphasize narrow and exaggerated traits. Common stereotypes include the "model minority," where Asians are depicted as highly intelligent, industrious, and successful, particularly in academics and professional settings. Another prevalent stereotype is the "perpetual foreigner," which casts Asians as outsiders who, regardless of how long they or their families have lived in the West, are depicted with exaggerated accents and foreign mannerisms. Gendered stereotypes also persist, with Asian women often depicted as submissive and quiet, while Asian men are desexualized and seen as nerdy, reinforcing harmful …show more content…

Orientalism's influence results in the portrayal of Asians and Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners and exotic figures, perpetuating shallow and distorted understandings of Asian identities and cultures in media. Part 2: Disney’s 2003 release of Freaky Friday depicts Asian American culture through the characters of Pei-Pei (played by Rosalind Chao), and her mother, Mrs. Hoon (played by Lucille Song). These characters own and operate a Chinese restaurant, which serves as a key setting for the plot’s inciting incident: the body switch. This aforementioned body switch between the main characters, Tess (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) and Anna (played by Lindsay Lohan), is triggered by a pair of magical fortune cookies given to them by Mrs. Hoon. During this particular scene in the restaurant, Mrs. Hoon speaks in cryptic, broken English, saying, “A fortune cookie has a mystery inside. Sometimes it comes true.” Pei-Pei and Mrs. Hoon are peripheral characters, dressed in traditional cheongsams and speaking stilted, heavily-accented …show more content…

Hoon perfectly embodies the traditional, mystical, ‘older generation’ while her more demure, subservient daughter Pei-Pei is seen as the dutiful daughter running the family business. It is also interesting to note that the Chinese restaurant itself is adorned with red lanterns, bamboo plants, and dragon statues, while stereotypical “Asian” music plays in the background. Part 3: While the portrayal of Pei-Pei and Mrs. Hoon is not as overtly offensive as some other portrayals of Asian characters, it still relies on superficial and stereotypical elements that exoticize and marginalize Asian American culture. By far, the most blatantly racist line in the movie is said when Anna is discussing how she and her mother switched bodies. “She did something,” Anna says in reference to Mrs. Hoon, “some strange Asian voodoo.” This is a direct example of the exoticizing Orientalism mentioned by Edward Said, and it also exemplifies the “exotic and mystical Asian” stereotype. Moreover, Mrs. Hoon’s broken English and Pei-Pei’s over-the-top accent reinforce the idea of Asian Americans being perpetual foreigners; it does not help that the language barrier is used for comedic purposes in the movie, either, as this just further marginalizes the

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