Posted by 윤선 in Asian stereotypes, cultural differences, identity | 4 Comments
“Lisa, soon you will have a Chinese baby sister who will surpass you academically”. (The Simpsons) Stereotypes. *Sigh*
Let me tell you a simple truth about myself: I am BAD at mathematics. And when I say bad, I mean BAD. It has always been the
The Scream by Edvard Munch - the way I look when it comes to numbers!
bane of my existence. It was the subject I dreaded throughout kindergarten, primary school and then high school. Much blood, sweat and tears were wasted on numbers presented to me in text books. Throughout my teaching practicums last year, I had to call my (computer and math whiz) husband to find out how to order year three fractions from smallest to largest. And even today, when it comes to grocery shopping, bills and anything else to do with numbers and/or finance, well… let’s just say I’m extremely grateful for the fact that I married someone who is a natural with all things numbers and “logic”. Anything that is slightly involved with numbers is enough to give me the shakes and make me feel as though I’m on the edge of a cliff, waiting to nosedive into a great panic attack.
And to top it all off, I’m Asian.
What’s your reaction to this? Shock? Horror? Surprise?
Why?
Oh stereotypes. Unfortunately, they are a very real element of people, human nature and society. The Simpsons is a great example – it plays off stereotypes SO well. In fact, without stereotypes, that show wouldn’t exist. The one episode that comes to mind is “Goo Goo Gai Pan”, where Selma adopts a baby girl from China. The whole episode is filled with examples of stereotypes in both western and Chinese societies – from the characters’ appearances to their actions. At the end of the episode, Madam Wu (voiced by Lucy Liu, or, as I like to refer to her, “America’s excuse for an Asian person”) says to Lisa: “you’ll have a baby sister who will surpass you academically”. This plays off the stereotype that all Asian people are high academic achievers, regardless of whether or not it’s true. Furthermore, the Chinese are depicted to be smaller and leaner, as opposed to the Simpsons and Homer’s usual rounded belly. Are all Chinese people academically intelligent? I doubt it. Are all American people fat? I doubt it. Are all Asian people skinny? I doubt that, too. But who needs reality and the truth when there’s the stereotypical truth? 
As an Asian person living in a western society, I have really struggled to find a balance between reality and “reality”. As an adoptee, this is merely ANOTHER balance I’ve had to find, and I’d be lying if I said I’d found my happy medium.
I think two of the main Asian stereotypes that come to mind are: “Asians are smart” and “Asians are skinny”.
I think one of the worst things about stereotypes is that they create a false sense of reality and the truth. Stereotypes cover up what’s really true, and instead, make a facade which people prefer to believe. They are based on generalisation and the belief that certain groups of people are all one particular way.
Academics has never been a strong point of mine. Sure, I have two university degrees and I got through the entirety of high school, but the whole journey was a struggle for me. I was simply lucky that I didn’t have to study mathematics at uni, and I was lucky I passed my Higher School Certificate! But I hated feeling as though I had to succeed in this area, simply because of my racial background and the “truth” that all Asian people are “smart”. Regardless of whether or not this is true, it’s apparently true for many people, therefore it’s something that I always felt needed to be lived up to. There’s the truth, and then there’s the “truth”.
The other BAD stereotype that I have struggled with more than any other is body image. And this one is something I think most teenagers struggle with. Matt recently made a blog post on KC101′s blog about Koreans being “skinny”, and how there’s a lot of pressure to be thin. 
Here’s another fact about me: I like to eat. A lot. I always have. I love carbs and more recently, I love sugar. I also hate the idea of
By Visuality Photography. Taken at the end of 2007.
those ridiculously expensive 10 course degustation meals, because I hate the idea of having lots of TINY things to eat. I’d much prefer one massive bowl of pasta or rice. Pasta, sushi, anything with rice and generally anything with carbs are my weakness. And when there’s food around, I’ll eat it. Regardless of whether or not I’m full. I’ll eat if there’s food. Now, I’ll admit that maybe I don’t LOOK as though that’s the case, however despite how things may LOOK, I don’t have the “typical” Asian metabolism that moves at the speed of light. I actually put on weight very easily, and having a smaller frame is something that has come with a lot of effort and discipline on my part over the past few years. But what am I gunna do? Spout that to every person who immediately assumes I have an awesomely speedy metabolism because of my racial heritage? Isn’t it easier just to live up to “reality”?
In all honesty, although it may be “better” to “simply” not worry about others’ “truths”, the “importance” to be a certain way and to (attempt to) fit in with the cultural group I already struggle to be a member of is of higher importance to my self worth and self identity. And sadly, this includes living up to, and being a part of the “truths” others have about my racial group.
I think body image is viewed a bit differently in Korea compared to the way we view it in the west – here, it would be highly insulting to go up to someone and tell them they’re fat. Body image is almost a taboo subject in the west – something that needs to be treated delicately. In the west, we’re treading on eggshells if we attempt to breach the subject. However, it seems as though telling someone they’re “fat” or “healthy” in Korea is simply more like saying “the sky’s blue” – it’s not necessarily meant as an insult, but more of a neutral statement. I could be wrong, but that’s the way it comes off to me. But because of this more “neutral” attitude, I think it poses a more “neutral” expectation that Asians “need” to be thinner, and this leads to the assumption that we all have fast metabolisms. We can all eat as much as we damn well want to, without needing to exercise one bit, and therefore, we all look a certain way – we’re all “naturally” size 0s. Which is not the case, but that’s beside the point… isn’t it? Because of the more “neutral” attitude that appears to come from my “motherland”, there comes an expectation that floats in the air around us, almost as naturally as the oxygen we breathe. And when something that is meant to be “natural” doesn’t come naturally, it can be all the more difficult to achieve and live up to, particularly when it’s a difficult thing to do in this day and age, in this country, with all its temptations (EG: the endless FREE biscuits provided at work)! However, it’s still something that’s always on my mind – it’s just another thing that comes with having been born in a Korean suit.
It’s hard to admit to the fact that I’m no different from the majority of people – I conform to the expectations of reality, whether it’s the truth or not. And in western society, there are certain “truths” I need to live up to if I’m to really fit in with the group I look like. As an adoptee, I feel I’ve struggled enough with coming to terms with my opposing worlds and the clash that happens in the formation of my identity, that although stereotypes are a pressure, and they hurt, it’s almost easier to live up to them, regardless of what the real truth about me as an individual may be.
Stereotypes apparently set the standard for things, whether we like to admit it or not. Unfortunately, they are based on general assumptions, lack of education and knowledge. They assume that huge groups of people are the same, and I’m sad to admit that I try to conform and live up to them. Stereotypes, though, create “truths”. According to them, it’s true that all Asians are “smart”. Apparently I am an academic genius. I am amazing at mathematics, I spend all my spare time studying subjects I’m not really interested in and I surpass about 90% of caucasian students. Is this true? Definitely not! One only needs to look at my academic records to see that I am not a genius, nor do I spend 99% of my time studying! But who cares, right? The rest of the Asian population are like this, right?
Furthermore, according to the “truth”, I’m naturally a size 0. I can eat all I want, without gaining a single bit of weight or doing any exercise! DON’T YOU WISH YOU WERE LIKE ME?! HAHA. I have been a stick figure all my life, and I’m a lazy bum. *Rolls eyes*. Again, I know this to be very untrue. I do around 60 minutes of exercise a day, and although I eat a significant amount of sugar and carbs, I try very hard not to snack or overeat. I’m also very conscious of what goes in my mouth. There is a tradeoff, believe it or not.
For me, it’s sad to admit that I try to live up to others’ expectations and realities. But the tradeoff is further ridicule, surprise when I tell others I’m not the “usual” way and looks of disbelief. These are things that I have already experienced as an adoptee – things that only increased my shame, embarrassment and fear of being an adoptee when I was younger… things I would prefer to avoid… even if that means conforming to truths that are made out of stupid assumptions and generalisations.
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I just got back from four weeks of visiting my wife’s family in Korea. In traveling around Seoul, Gwangju, and Jeju Island, I saw maybe five fat Koreans. The whole time, I felt like a giraffe in a herd of gazelles. And, when my wife goes to the grocery store here in Atlanta, she looks like a gazelle in a herd of beef cattle.
I’m another Asian who did horribly at math. It was always my lowest grade in elementary school – usually around a c+, B- if I was lucky.
Chinese people seem to be viewed as more intelligent academically – but that’s only because they don’t have much of a social life, due to the pressure from their parents. They go to school during the day from 8 till 4 or 5 (or something along those lines) and then attend cram school at night!
So the stereotypes aren’t completely unfounded. But they are based off of a “candy-coated” truth – in short, that Asian students have much more *pressure* to be good students and therefore are actually required to study more often.
Yes, I agree that culturally, Asian students have more pressure to achieve academically, but it doesn’t mean we’re all naturally inclined to be good at maths. What you said about China is the same for Korea and I’m pretty sure it’s true for Japan, too. Makes me wonder what I’d be like if I HAD remained in Korea… LOL.
If you’re interested, the book “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell is a good read. Although it is not a book specifically or directly connected to adoption, Gladwell very intelligently and lucidly addresses how cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic heritage can influence who people become and what they do, not only immediately but for generations…and actually, the author specifically addresses the whole “math & Asians” issue in a chapter entitled, ” Rice Paddies & Math Tests.”
Although I don’t necessarily concur with everything he posits in the book, I do find his overall discussion very insightful, appropriate, and sincere…