The Fetishization of Asian-American Women: the Uncomfortable Truth Behind the Atlanta Shootings

Written by: Iris Cheng

Edited by: Farwa Din

The Tao Te Ching, an ancient Chinese religious and philosophical text, uses a series of paradoxical lessons and simplistic poems to intertwine an individual’s perception of him or herself with integrity and wisdom. Although the text predates many of our modern traditions, its poetic balance and understanding of identity and human nature undoubtedly bear relevance to contemporary society.

As the concept of self-identity for Asian-Americans evolves in our contemporary sociopolitical context, it becomes more difficult than ever for us to find a sense of clarity. The terror following the Atlanta shootings, the rapid succession of anti-Asian hate crimes, and the “fox-eye” trend are all fundamental conflicts between parts of our identity- fresh wounds that our community has yet to fully mentally process.

With COVID-19, America effortlessly slipped back into its oppressive ideologies: an epidemic to rival the virus itself). Throughout American history, the government proliferated Sinophobic propaganda, fueling the “yellow peril” narrative-- the Western fear that East Asians pose an existential threat to white supremacy-- in order to indoctrinate the public to consent to imperialism (read: the exploitation of millions of Asians overseas) and the subsequent military expenses. Congruently, while New Zealand and Taiwan constructed COVID-19 testing initiatives and committed to national lockdowns, President Trump condemned an entire culture with the Sinophobic expression, “Chinese Virus.”

In response to the Atlanta shootings, white supremacists leveraged the model minority myth, a narrative claiming that Asian-Americans are inherently successful, to deny the existence of systemic racism. In reality, Long’s “sexual addiction” and the subsequent tragic demise of three Asian women working survival jobs embodies the modern ramifications of imperialism: rampant hyper-sexualization of Asian women.

Paradoxically, the model minority myth and fetishization of Asian heritage have failed to shield us in the face of anti-Asian hate, alternatively cultivating a culture of censorship. The stereotype of Asians as unproblematic and submissive silences us.

The Tao Te Ching may have pioneered Chinese philosophy centuries ago, but its lessons on self-identity still ring true today. Although author Laozi could never have predicted the fetishization that Asian-American women endure today, it is time that we reflect on our community’s perpetual battle with our identity.

The Fetishization of Asian-American Women: the Uncomfortable Truth Behind the Atlanta Shootings

Written by: Iris Cheng

Edited by: Farwa Din

The Tao Te Ching, an ancient Chinese religious and philosophical text, uses a series of paradoxical lessons and simplistic poems to intertwine an individual’s perception of him or herself with integrity and wisdom. Although the text predates many of our modern traditions, its poetic balance and understanding of identity and human nature undoubtedly bear relevance to contemporary society.

As the concept of self-identity for Asian-Americans evolves in our contemporary sociopolitical context, it becomes more difficult than ever for us to find a sense of clarity. The terror following the Atlanta shootings, the rapid succession of anti-Asian hate crimes, and the “fox-eye” trend are all fundamental conflicts between parts of our identity- fresh wounds that our community has yet to fully mentally process.

With COVID-19, America effortlessly slipped back into its oppressive ideologies: an epidemic to rival the virus itself). Throughout American history, the government proliferated Sinophobic propaganda, fueling the “yellow peril” narrative-- the Western fear that East Asians pose an existential threat to white supremacy-- in order to indoctrinate the public to consent to imperialism (read: the exploitation of millions of Asians overseas) and the subsequent military expenses. Congruently, while New Zealand and Taiwan constructed COVID-19 testing initiatives and committed to national lockdowns, President Trump condemned an entire culture with the Sinophobic expression, “Chinese Virus.”

In response to the Atlanta shootings, white supremacists leveraged the model minority myth, a narrative claiming that Asian-Americans are inherently successful, to deny the existence of systemic racism. In reality, Long’s “sexual addiction” and the subsequent tragic demise of three Asian women working survival jobs embodies the modern ramifications of imperialism: rampant hyper-sexualization of Asian women.

Paradoxically, the model minority myth and fetishization of Asian heritage have failed to shield us in the face of anti-Asian hate, alternatively cultivating a culture of censorship. The stereotype of Asians as unproblematic and submissive silences us.

The Tao Te Ching may have pioneered Chinese philosophy centuries ago, but its lessons on self-identity still ring true today. Although author Laozi could never have predicted the fetishization that Asian-American women endure today, it is time that we reflect on our community’s perpetual battle with our identity.