Yellow Fever | anonymous

By anonymous Yellow Fever

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Vol. XXXVIII, Issue 2 7 Pinterest/ vraiglmtkeh.pblog.pro Yellow fever. A derogatory term used to describe the fetishization of Asian women.

It has been stereotyped that Asian women are quiet, passive and submissive. Most men find this attractive because historically, it has always been perceived that men are dominant to women.

Even before the over-sexualization, the problem begins with the stereotype.

I have gotten surprised looks and initial confusion when people are greeted by my extroverted personality. “You’re not like most Asians.” Is it because I’m not timid and introverted, with my head stuck in a math book? If that’s the case, people need to wake up and be more aware, because I guarantee that there are many Asians who are actually ‘like me’ and don’t fit the typical, superficial stereotype of Asians.

It is hurtful when people categorize and label others. Most of the time, stereotypes are negative and they create certain ideas in people’s head that are completely incorrect. This then leads to people assuming things about a certain ethnicity, culture, religion, etcetera. Stereotypes are ways to demote and put people down, and it can harm the target’s selfesteem and emotions.

Another ridiculous assumption in regards to yellow fever is that Asians are exotic. A lot of men have an obsession with Asian women because we are ‘unique and different,’ like a ‘china doll’: dainty, beautiful and foreign.

Once during dinner, my mother told me a story about a friend of hers, who is Asian. She was at a bar with her friends when a man came up to her. He asked, “Is your vagina vertical or horizontal?” I was appalled when I heard the story. This man had the audacity to come up to her and suggest that her genitals were different from any other woman because she was Asian. I really hoped she threw a drink in his face because that was the least he deserved. * When I was younger, I wished I was Caucasian because I was taught that everyone liked Caucasian girls. You see them in magazines, television shows and movies, and described in books. The idea of them was even replicated and mass-produced as Barbie dolls. I would say to my mom in frustration, “I wish boys liked Asian girls. No one will ever like me because I’m Asian. I wish I had blonde hair and blue eyes.” Now that I’m older, I struggle with something else. I wonder if men will like me for me, or if their attraction to me is because of what I look like and my ethnicity. Are they attracted to me and my feelings and opinions, or are they just attracted to how exotic they think I am? “Have you ever tried American before?” The ignorant, disgusting words came from a white male, as he eyed me up and down at a party. If I had a drink in my hand, I would have thrown it at him— but instead, I walked away, repulsed, and honestly, still shocked about what just happened. This wasn’t the first time I’ve heard a sexual, racist innuendo directed towards me, but it still churns my stomach every time.

It’s the dehumanization that makes me feel so small and vulnerable. I feel anger running through my body because some men think it’s okay to sexualize my ethnicity. * Vol. XXXVIII, Issue 2 7