116: We’re Not Your Lotus Flower: Asian Women in America

Dear White Women

This episode is personal, as we’re both Japanese women. We’ve been called exotic. We’ve had White men visibly change their reactions to us when they find out we’re Japanese. We’ve then had to hear about their “other Asian girlfriends”. For the record? That’s disgusting.

But we need to talk. We need to talk about what we’ve personally experienced, what our Asian female friends have experienced, and the history that we, as a country, don’t want to talk about - namely, how Asian women are seen by Americans, and in particular, White men. Because, more often than not, we’re seen as invisible, exotic, sexual toys. And we’re done with that B.S., to be quite clear.

Because what happens when we don’t talk about it? Atlanta, and the further perpetuation of historical inaccuracies, untruths, and stereotypes that we need to change right now.

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What to listen for:

• The role the US government and military played in the creating the hypersexualized steroetypes of Asian women
• Two harmful female Asian stereotypes: The Lotus Flower and Dragon Lady
• How our history, unaddressed, leads to false and damaging notions of Asian women - and leads to killings like in Atlanta

For more reading:

How a Long History of Intertwined Racism and Misogyny Leaves Asian Women in America Vulnerable to Violence

A Sociologist's View On The Hyper-Sexualization Of Asian Women In American Society

Fetishized, sexualized and marginalized, Asian women are uniquely vulnerable to violence

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