Definition: Fall 2013 by Generasian

GENERASIAN NYU'S PREMIER ASIAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION FALL 2013 • VOL 12 • NO 1

def·i·ni·tion

: an explanation of the meaning of a word, phrase, etc. : a statement that defines a word, phrase, etc. : a statement that describes what something is : a clear or perfect example of a person or thing

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S stud ying is a senior at CA Evelyn Cheng ctural n and Archite d Urban Desig an , m lis na ur Jo siness Studies. a minor in Bu Studies, with

2 Letters from the Editors

from the

LETTER EDITORS W

hen I first h eard about Generasian my freshm in an year, I w any group as both exci and a little s about cha intimidated ted nges that w b y th th e are living rough, that e p rospect of Here was a our ancest joining. n an open o rs fo h ru av m e a nd those th lived throu for Asian A to talk abo at we may gh, mericans ut what mat expect in th te rs to In u e future. sbright indiv this issue o -a collectio f the maga n of iduals from zine, we ex different b these same with stron amine ackground th re e g, developed elements th s o ro p u in ‘D g io h e fi n th s. n Editor-in-C e lens of ition’-what Though I w hief of a lite as makes us w rary arts m ho we are, got us here, in high sch ag what azine back and how w ool, I wasn e look to th ’t sure if I h a n e ex fu fer to a pub a ture. From mination o ad much to lication wit f what the of2020 Olym h such defi mean for Ja ned goals. pics might I finally did pan to a po become inv ignant sho and family, olved in m rt st o spring and ry on food y freshman we seek to quick ly re define furt alized that and positio h er largely unfo o my fears w ur identity n in the sch ere unded. No eme of thin t only were in g th s, e passionate w w hether orld or wit the member about their hin a small s work, but communit T h and blog p o th u g e y. h m it may seem agazine rovided a m over-ambit eans of com m en io t, u ing my tho m s municatat the moy vision fo ughts and r Generasi ideas to a d an is for it scend its cu people. Wh iverse grou to tranrr ent status en I wrote p of as a school my reactio become th m ‘Asian Girlz ag n letter to azine and e Asian-Am the ’ farce, the erican inte post was re the East Co rest magazi several Gen b lo g a ge st. The ma ne of d by erasian fan jority of A s and seen media activ sian-Amer While we a by dozens it ic y an ta re a relativ kes place o more. ely new org n the West -Generasia have quick C a o n a iz st n at is currentl ion, we ly gathered y the best co a large, act that positio ntender fo both onlin ive fanbase n fo r r e and with th e East Coast , in NYU. It . While we have a lot m ’s amazing the growth ce o rt re growing ainly to see of the club to do, I hav , from when that with th e full faith brought Gen th e e fo p u a n ss d ion of our erasian ba er staff and lo ck to life to our reader yalty of the presen With each s, we will re t day. semester, th ach that po e breadth an in I t si of the mag in n ce no time. rely hope th d scope azine has g at you enjo ro w n is y to su o a u e: ccommodat r Fall 2013 interests o Definition. f each new e the We look fo batch of w rward to sh w it h y covered sp ri o u te aring all of our h rs. We’ve orts, world ard work th n ew s, is p se o m p many more ester. culture, an . The one el d ement that A ll same, how th re e mains the best, ever, is our dedication artists not a s w ri te rs and only to con vey what w ate about, e are passio but also to ncreate a pu can serve a blication th s inspiratio at n for other cans and in Asian Amer itiate conv iersations b Catherine etween all Ye and Editor-at-L arge, Fall 2 013 Catherine Y e

is a Junior stud ying bi ology h a minor in Psychology.

in CAS wit

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WHAT’S INSIDE 01 Cover Graphic Amelia Chu 02 Letters from the Editors Evelyn Cheng & Catherine Ye

COMMENTARY

ARTS & CULTURE

05 Reclaiming “Asian America”: Toward a

14 Too Sexy for Korea—But Not for US! Victoria Lee

Future of Racial Solidarity Mark Putterman 16 More Than Kung Fu Nicole Bernardo 09 A Taste to Remember Catherine Ye 18 Defined Rachel Liu, Tina Yu, Larry Wu 12 Digging Deeper: Behind the Tiger Mom Amelie Zhao

WORLD

SHORTS

23 2020 Olympics: Can the Land of the Rising Sun

30 Spotlight: South East Asian Cultures Amy Lu

Rise to Meet This Challenge? Eugene Cheng 31 Ramen Reviews 25 Meet My Boyfriend, Mr. Tall-Rich-

Timothy Chen

Handsome Amelie Zhao 27 Pass it On: The Rise of English-Only Jolene Hsu

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4 Table of Contents

RECLAIMING “ASIAN AMERICA”: TOWARDS A FUTURE OF RACIAL SOLIDARITY by Mark Putterman

“A

sian Americans are not people

where “difference” is inevitably a

comparably diverse urban context and

source of exclusion and worse, ridicule.

an academic exposure to the nuances of

argument many times before, on

Yet, the dominant narrative of the

systemic oppression, racial exclusion,

Internet forums and implied by pop

model minority prevents many young

and cultural hegemony for me to solidi-

culture model minority depictions and

Asian Americans

schoolyard “banana” jokes (yellow on

from firmly iden-

the outside, white on the inside). But

tifying as people

coming from my close friend, a fellow

of color. Instead,

person of color, and someone whose

we occupy a hazy

political and social ideologies I saw as

gray in the midst

closely aligned with my own, the state-

of our nation’s

ment was a slap in the face, stinging as

white/black racial

much for its surprise as for its familiar-

binary, concep-

ity. Where does this notion come from?

tualized more as

How, and why, are Americans social-

off-white soon-to-bes than as a com-

fy my identity as a member of the great-

ized to see Asian Americans as some-

munity of color. And yet our racial dif-

er American “Community of Color.”

how separate from Black and Latino

ference, in many ways, remains clear.

communities of color? And how can

Growing up hapa (mixed race Asian)

we, as members of the Asian American

in white suburbia, I myself entertained

community, break down these stereo-

the strange fantasy of being absorbed

miliar—and pernicious—narrative that

types to (re)position ourselves solidly

into whiteness, a delusion contradicted

pigeonholes the Asian American (and

alongside our fellow peoples of color?1

by infrequent—but meaning-imbued—

often by extension, Pacific Islander)

jokes from my peers about ninjas,

community as submissive, Science

mathematics, and China, reminders

Technology Engineering and Math-

of color.” I’d heard the same

Q For many, the Asian American ex-

I myself entertained the strange fantasy of being absorbed into whiteness, a delusion contradicted by infrequent— but meaning-imbued—jokes from my peers about ninjas, mathematics, and China, reminders of my unwanted place as an “other” in white America.

Q The model minority myth is the fa-

of my unwanted place as an “other” in

ematics (STEM) oriented, computer-

perience comes with a built-in identity

white America. And yet these moments

fixing foreigners. We are immigrant

crisis. For Asian Americans who grow

were infrequent enough so as to allow

parents dedicated to getting ahead

up in middle and upper class white

a continued phenomenon in which,

and pushing our children towards

communities (as I did), we are often

consciously or unconsciously, I pictured

academic and material success. We

among the only people of color in the

myself by default as just another face in

are the minority with average family

classroom and on the playground—

a sea of white. It took an uprooting to a

income greater than white households,2

1 When I refer to the Asian American community, I am deliberately excluding Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities who are often lumped into the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) umbrella. While the two tend to be racialized similarly in the American context, I make the differentiation so as to do service to the very different lived experiences, political concerns, and social/economic struggles of the NHPI community that the lumped term AAPI may obstruct. I therefore use the term “Asian American” rather than the more “inclusive” “AAPI”. 2 http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0690.pdf

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Reclaiming “Asian America”: Toward a Future of Racial Solidarity 5

common targets of bullying at school; that anti-Asian violence, especially towards South Asians, Muslims, and Sikhs, has risen at an alarming rate post-9/11; that poverty rates for Hmong, Cambodian, and other Southeast Asian households are comparable to those of Blacks and Latinos; or that over 10 per cent of the undocumented immigrant population (that is to say, over 1.1 million individuals) are of Asian or Pacific Islander descent.4 5 6 7 But besides its errors of omission, I find the myth of Asian exceptionalism equally dangerous in its justification of anti-Asian discrimination, because, as too many argue, it’s not racist because we’re practically white. The rules of racism are clearly different for Asian Americans, a fact that many writers before me have explored.8 At some level, this is something that any Asian American can corroborate from personal experience. Though it took years before I found the words to express it, I understood this phenomenon from a young age. It was only later that I realized I wasn’t alone with the feeling of isolation that comes TIME Magazine: a 1987 cover feeds into the model minority myth

from floating between the warm majority of whiteness and the solidarity that

“proof” of the American Dream—proof

meritocratic delusions, the yellow that

links Black and Latino communities.

that you can pull yourself up by your

lies between white and black on our

Indeed, the Asian American experience

bootstraps. We are actors and actresses

country’s racial hierarchy, the buf-

is to be “other-ized” on both fronts.

stuck playing supporting roles as doc-

fer that reinforces notions of both the

In this sense, racism against Asian

tors, engineers, computer technicians

superiority of whiteness and the cor-

Americans is conceptualized differently

and high school nerds, reenacting (and

responding inferiority of blackness.3

from racism against Blacks or Latinos

thus perpetuating) America’s bias in

Of course, the model minority myth

because Asian Americans ourselves

blockbusters and mainstream TV. We

is dangerous in part because of the

are conceptualized differently than

are, in the end, an invaluable rhetorical

problematic truths that it obscures:

our Black or Latino peers. America

device that maintains white America’s

that Asian Americans are the most

has stripped our demographic from

3 I use the term “yellow” to emphasize the predominant American racialization/colorization of Asian Americans, recognizing that skin tone is clearly not a unifying feature of members of the Asian diaspora. I do believe that all Asian Americans, regardless of skin tone, fall prey to the model minority myth and are therefore placed in the same gray zone that exists in the US context’s racial binary. 4 http://aaldef.org/2013_NYC_bullying_report.pdf 5 http://www.policymic.com/articles/65593/two-anti-muslim-acts-that-prove-bigotry-is-bigger-than-ever 6 http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/aapi/data/critical-issues 7 https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/ois_ill_pe_2011.pdf 8 http://therumpus.net/2012/03/different-racisms-on-jeremy-lin-and-how-the-rules-of-racism-are-different-for-asian-americans/

6 Commentary

the histories of oppression, exclusion,

succeeding, why not others? This falsely

but a dearth of Asian American student

and discrimination that are so closely

posed opposition leads people of all

organizations that address the political,

associated with the Black and Latino

races towards blaming communities

social, and cultural issues that face our

experiences, yet absent in the ways we

of color for present circumstances that

community and other communities of

conceive of Asians in America. We are

have been in no small part dictated by a

color. I see student solidarity amongst

not the chinks who were barred from

history of American white supremacy

Latino, Black, and indigenous people of

entering the country in 1882 or the japs

that has influenced everything from

color—coalition building and support

who were interned for their ethnic-

federal policy to water-cooler banter.

systems and political and social activ-

ity—we are the eager foreigners, fresh

And as a not-so-coincidental con-

ism movements that, consciously or

off the boat, ready to work and pursue

sequence, the false model/problem

unconsciously, exclude Asian American

success the American way. We are

minority binary has seen the creation

student groups. I see all of us—Asians,

the model minority, the success story

and perpetuation of damaging divi-

Asian Americans, and other groups

of the American dream, the people of

sions within communities of color. Most

of color—reinforcing this myth that

color who are so close to being accepted

troubling, I fear that members of our

we are an apolitical and ahistorical

as “white.” The micro-aggressions,

own community have internalized this

demographic. I see all of us complicit in

Hollywood tropes, the where-are-you-

racial hierarchy that places us above

the perpetuation of myths that divide

froms and the what-are-yous, are all

other communities of color, and that the

and weaken people of color as a whole.

an unfortunate consequence of the

metaphorical dangling carrot of white-

creation of a narrative of Asian America

ness that hangs before us (being, of

Asian American activism and radical-

that is at once apolitical and ahistorical.

course, always out of reach) has made

ism is long overdue. And I believe that

us complicit in the perpetuation of

in order to reclaim our histories of

white supremacy and systemic racism.

oppression, exclusion, and struggle, we

Q In the end, in order to understand cations, we also have to think about its

have to understand that whether our

the model minority myth and its impli-

I believe a rekindling of the spirit of

families came to this country one hun-

Like many private universities

dred or twenty-five or even two years

position in relation to “problem minor-

in America, when I look around my

ago, we have a stake in the centuries-old

ity” narratives that dominate discourses

campus I see a huge (mostly East) Asian

history of Asians in America. Whatever

about Black and Latino communities

demographic around me. And yet I

brought us here, we are here—and the

and their association with poverty,

am frustrated by my perception that

ways in which we are conceptualized,

crime, and “illegality.” The problem mi-

some of my peers deny their identi-

contextualized, and racialized by a

nority narrative centers on gangs, bor-

ties as people of color. I am shaken

political and cultural climate that is

der crossers, high school dropouts and

when I hear both Asian and Asian

dominated by upper-class white male

welfare queens—on a lack of personal

Americans outright state that they are

interests are inevitably connected to

responsibility and discipline. This rhet-

not people of color. I am disturbed by

the legacy of our peoples’ histories

oric of personal responsibility prevents

the multitude of micro-aggressions

of oppression. We have to remember

us all from confronting the systems of

that go unnoticed, the racist Facebook

that we were the families barred from

social, economic, and political exclusion

comments that go unchallenged, and

passing through America’s gates for

and oppression that have and continue

the fact that “Engrish” has become a

sixty long years because of our country

to contribute to the predicament of

popular colloquial term mocking the

of origin; we were the hindoos denied

communities of color (an uncomfort-

stereotypical East Asian accent (and

citizenship for no reason other than

able fact to confront for believers in

even more, that this “joke” often goes

the color of our skin; we were the

the post-racial era of Obama). But the

unchecked or even invoked by members

lynched, the interned, the beaten and

utility of the model minority myth lies

of the Asian American community). I

the murdered.10 And even today, we

in the fact that it offers the chance to

see a great diversity of Asian-oriented

are the bullied, the “random search”

piece together the crumbling vision of

clubs that are apolitical in nature,

victims, the targets of NYPD scrutiny

an egalitarian, color-blind American

celebrating culture, religion, food and

and white supremacist vitriol.11 We are

meritocracy. If Asian Americans are

art (which are important, no doubt),

the emasculated and the exoticized,

9 http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=engrish

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Reclaiming “Asian America”: Toward a Future of Racial Solidarity 7

the perpetual foreigners and the butt

of her address, her demand—“We will

Though systems of racism and op-

of sitcom jokes. We are the Vincent

not be used”—became a call to ac-

pression affect us all differently, in

Chins and the Danny Chens, the Oak

tion for Asian Americans who saw the

the end we are in this together, and

importance of recognizing our com-

as Asian Americans we must refuse

munity’s utility in perpetuating white

to be used to perpetuate the very

ther than our own history to under-

supremacy, who saw that the same

system by which we are oppressed.

stand that it is a history not categorized

internalized racism that deluded me as

by oppression, but resistance and

a child to believe that one day I could

wieldy term that is “Asian America.” In

solidarity. It is a history of struggle,

be absorbed into whiteness reflects

so doing, we also reclaim our troubled,

activism, and racial coalition building.

an inherent belief in the inferiority of

violent, and beautiful histories of

Ours is a demographic that fought for

Black and Latino communities of color,

struggle, sacrifice, and solidarity, and

the rights of citizenship, that rallied for

and who saw that rejection of our place

take a small step towards claiming and

government concessions in the wake of

as a racial gray zone was critical in the

creating a future of American equality.

internment, that petitioned for justice

struggle of all communities of color

in the trial of Vincent Chin’s murderers.

against systemic racism in America.

Creek Sikhs, and the Prabhjot Singhs.

And yet, we need not look any fur-

We are the Yellow Peril that supported

I believe that young Asian Ameri-

Black Power and the Filipino farm

cans need to be reminded of this call.

workers that united with Latinos to

We need to be reminded that any

form the United Farm Workers move-

acceptance of the model minority

ment. As Asian American activists and

myth—conscious or unconscious—im-

organizers we have the great privilege

plies an acceptance of the

of drawing from the work and legacies

class and racial superior-

of such icons as Grace Lee Boggs and

ity complexes in which

Yuri Kochiyama, community leaders

the myth is founded. We

who for decades stood alongside other

need to be reminded that

communities of color in solidarity and

Black issues and Latino

leadership and joint struggle against the

issues and Native issues

monolith of white supremacy that sub-

and working-class is-

jugates all people of color. This history

sues are Asian American

is the key to continuing our tradition of

issues, and that we as a

political and social activism in the face

community should be as

of adversity and discrimination, the key

concerned with police

to reclaiming and reshaping the narra-

brutality, stop-and-frisk,

tive of Asian America for ourselves.

detentions, and deporta-

In the early 1990s, professor, lawyer,

It’s time we reclaim this clunky, un-

Mark Putterman is a senior concentrating in Postcolonial Studieås and the Politics of Power in Gallatin.

tions as we are with college

and activist Mari Matsuda gave an

quotas on Asian applicants

eloquent address to the Asian Law

and the continued fe-

Caucus in which she implored her Asian

tishizing of Asian women.

American peers to recognize their place

Ultimately, we all need to

as a “racial middle” in the hierarchy

be reminded that racial

of America, and the crucial implica-

solidarity and coalition

tions of either complicity or rejection

building is the only path to

of their in-between status. In the wake

a more equitable America.

Roz Payne, Oakland 1969: Asian American demonstrators rally for the release of Black Panther Party leader Huey P. Newton

10 See: the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, repealed in 1943; United States vs. Bhagat Singh Thind, a Supreme Court case that ruled that Thind could not become a naturalized citizen because of his Indian origin; the Chinese massacre of 1871; WWII Japanese American internment; the murder of Vincent Chin; the abuse and suicide of Private Danny Chen. 11 https://www.aclu.org/blog/tag/nypd-muslim-surveillance 12 See: the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin; the 2011 suicide of Private Danny Chen; the 2012 mass shooting at a Wisconsin Sikh gurdwara; the 2013 hate crime committed against Columbia professor Prabhjot Singh. 8 Commentary

A TASTE TO REMEMBER

by Catherine Ye

remember the lunches my mom

ber the look on her face when

used to pack for me. A neat stripe

I emphasized ‘real lunches’.

of white rice on either end of a rectan-

“What’s wrong with

gular box, nearly symmetrical rows

Chinese lunches, Jenny?” One

of meats and vegetables sandwiched

fine eyebrow arched incredu-

in the middle. A compact, tri-color

lously, she continued to cram

collection of whatever was for dinner

bok choy into my lunchbox.

the night before. I hated it. As one of

“You will realize that there is

the few Asian kids in my school, it was

nothing not real about Chinese

hard enough just to look the way I did. I

lunches. Chinese food is real food.”

was made fun of for having a backpack,

“What’s wrong with Chinese lunches, Jenny?” One fine eyebrow arched incredulously, she continued to cram bok choy into my lunchbox. “You will realize that there is nothing not real about Chinese lunches. Chinese food is real food.”

I’d crossed my arms impatiently

my breath for the rest of the day. On the way home, I bought deli meat

teased for my glasses, and bullied for

and insisted that she at least make me

and bread from the supermarket and

everything from my folders to the types

a lunch that didn’t smell so much. “I

plopped it down on the table in a huff.

of pencils I used. It’s even harder to

can smell my lunch from the hallway!”

When my mom got home and saw me

escape unwanted attention when the

She’d rolled her eyes and com-

packing my own lunch, she sighed and

smell of last night’s twice-cooked pork

plied—but with a vengeance. The next

shrugged. “Whatever you want, dear.”

permeates through the entire cafete-

day at dinner, she cooked everything

And so it went for the next few years of

ria. And when my schedule became

as she would normally, but she set

high school. I didn’t love my sandwich-

too busy to permit a free period to eat,

aside an unseasoned portion of every

es, and they didn’t make me fit in any

I had to self-consciously shovel spicy

dish for me. When I opened my box at

better, but I didn’t care. I had struggled

ma po tofu into my mouth when my

class, there really was no smell, nor

so much to conform that I refused to

teachers took a moment to breathe.

was there any taste. My friend stole

take any steps back. It only escalated

I always figured my Korean and

a glance at me while I was choking

from there; whenever my friends came

Japanese friends had it easy. They

down dry, flavorless strips of meat.

over, I insisted that we order out, or that

would bring kimbap or maki rolls

“What’s with your lunch today?”

in Ziploc bags and hide it in their

She teased, “Are you going on the ‘boil

purses—perfect, odorless, bite-size,

everything’ diet?” I just made a face and

pared to attend university on the other

delicious sustenance. You just can’t

ignored her, surreptitiously slipping

side of the country—as far away from

do the same thing with Chinese food.

the remains into the bin after class.

my uber-Chinese family I could get.

I tried to bring mushu pork once, but

When I got home, I begged my mom

my mom cook something American. I graduated high school, and pre-

The night before my flight, my mom

the fat from the pulled pork soaked

to make me sandwiches, “like every

cooked a huge celebratory dinner in my

through the thin flour wrapper, and by

other kid, please.” She shooed me away

honor. My best friends and boyfriend,

the time noon rolled around, I had what

from the kitchen and nodded, smiling

all Caucasian, were present—as mysti-

was essentially a soggy nacho salad

to herself. She handed me a paper bag

fied by the whole steamed fish as they

in a plastic bag. I had to fish around

in the morning and kissed me goodbye

were by the bright red table spread. I

with a spoon while listening to Napo-

as she rushed out the door. In class, I

could feel their awkwardness around

leon’s various shortcomings, trying

unwrapped my lunch to find that she

my non-English speaking relatives,

to be as inconspicuous as possible.

had sandwiched five-spice beef and

who threw out the few, random English

pickled radishes between two slices of

phrases they knew at every occasion,

put my foot down and asked my mother

I can’t remember when it was that I

white mantou, a puffy sort of Chinese

and their sudden decrease in appetites

to make me real American lunches to

bread. I fought to get the sesame seeds

when my mom announced she was

bring to school. I do, however, remem-

out of my teeth and the radish out of

bringing out a crispy-skin piglet from

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A Taste to Remember 9

the oven. It was delicious, but I could

world, in London. We chatted over Sky-

to talk about mundane things, but

barely enjoy anything, mortified by

pe and I updated my family on my lives,

conversation stopped and started as she

my friends’ reactions. After they’d

my new boyfriend, my job. In London,

tried to fill in the gaps with things I had

left, I’d snapped at my mom, “Why

I had the best Indian food I’d ever had

told her previously. Finally, she held

couldn’t you just make some normal

the honor of consuming, sampled the

her head between her hands and quietly

food? They didn’t even eat anything!”

freshest sushi I’d ever come across,

told me, “I’m tired.” I left the room and

and had more pies and fish and chips

cried in my room for hours. Where was

she’d been using to clean the table.

Hurt, she’d thrown down the rag

than I’d like to admit. But for what-

the woman who had thrown the rag at

“What’s wrong with Chinese food?

ever reason, whether unconsciously

the table, who demanded nothing less

Why are you ashamed of me? Why

rebelling or not, I avoided Chinese food

than maturity and responsibility from

are you ashamed of our culture?” Her

religiously. I had been stereotyped for

me, who expressed her disapproval of

voice had risen to a hysterical pitch

too much of my life—had a label stuck

my attempts at conformity by finding

when my father ushered me into the

on my forehead for far too long. Even

the loopholes in my requests? Some-

living room. “Why are you doing this?

if my way of breaking free wasn’t the

time in the early morning, I wandered

She took the day off work and spent

best way to approach my inner turmoil,

into the kitchen, eyes red from a night

the entire day cooking your favorite

I couldn’t help it. I had conditioned my-

without sleep, and found myself in

foods. Your graduation is about you,

self to avoid that which I thought made

front of the fridge. Unbidden, my hands

sweetheart. She did all of this for you.”

me different, but in the end, I couldn’t

went to the door and pulled it open.

deny who I was and where I came from.

Various vegetables and meats occupied

We both went to sleep in tears that night. The following morning, we

Three years into my move to

said our stiff goodbyes and I got on

London, I got a call from my father.

of decay—an eerie reflection of the

my flight. Throughout the semester, I

“Come home. Your mother is sick.”

chaos that had taken over the house. I

updated them on my coursework, but

I booked a flight for that night, call-

the space before me in various stages

found myself piling onto the table all

I didn’t come home until Thanksgiv-

ing my secretary and business partners

the groceries still worth saving, driven

ing. My mom made a proper Ameri-

from the airport, trying not to sound

either by an unsettling need to do

can Thanksgiving dinner, featuring a

too panicked. When I landed, my father

something or an unconscious hunger.

juicy turkey stuffed with all the right

gave me her diagnosis—early-onset

I let my arms decide for me which to

stuffings, and cranberry sauce on the

Alzheimer’s. My mom was slowly

pick out and which to leave, drifting

side. I ate quietly and thanked her

losing her familiarity with the world

towards the sink. I watched, somewhat

for the meal. She nodded in acknowl-

around her. She could no longer go to

detached, as I washed some napa cab-

edgement, and said little else.

work, function by herself, or remember

bage, and heated up a wok with some

where she lived. Most distressing to

oil. I felt as if I were seeing through

her, however, was that she could no lon-

a cloudy lens—I could barely realize

My father took me aside again that night. “You won’t believe how hard it was to find that cranberry sauce. The store near us ran out, and she took the train to the next town just to get some for you. Your mother, she spared no effort for you this time.” But my pride sealed my lips, and hers kept her from asking any more

Hurt, she’d thrown down the rag she’d been using to clean the table. “What’s wrong with Chinese food? Why are you ashamed of me? Why are you ashamed of our culture?”

that I was the one frying the flour, adding water, then dried shrimp and the cabbage. I tasted the broth, added salt, then pepper, and turned off the gas, watching the flames die. I could feel apprehension well up in my chest as I walked a bowl to

of me. For the next three years, and

my mother’s room, knocking softly

even after I graduated, every time I

until I could hear her shift in bed.

came home, we either ate at the small

ger cook for herself and that the memo-

I walked in to find my father crouched

Italian restaurant next to our house

ries she had associated with family din-

over her bed, his eyes darkened with

or we would order takeout. We made

ners were slowly slipping away. When

fatigue and confusion as he took in

small talk about classes, but never again

she saw me walk into her room, she

the sight of the soup held between my

did we talk about food or cooking. She

cried because she could no longer make

shaking hands. She sat up, rubbing

cried when I graduated, and we said

my favorite foods to welcome me home.

sleep from her weary eyes. I settled

our goodbyes again when I moved to

She hadn’t eaten properly for days.

next to her on the bed, offering the

start my career on the other side of the 10 Commentary

The first night was tough. We tried

bowl to her. She took it carefully and

brought the spoon to her lips. My father

her every movement with teary eyes,

knew, I could hear her whispering, “I

watched us intently, and as she took

his fists clenched in the fabric of her

think there are still some eggs in the

the first sip, I couldn’t stop the words

bedspread. We sat in mute tension,

fridge. Why don’t we make some tea

from spilling nervously from my lips.

my pulse playing staccato rhythms

eggs together? We can’t have you starv-

in my ears. After several long sec-

ing in London, with your British food.”

“You used to cook this for me when I was sick. I…I don’t know if it can

onds, she raised her face to my gaze,

make you better, but I had to try, I just

her brown eyes wide and teary.

couldn’t…” I trailed off into silence. She took one sip, then another, and another, until she drank the entire

“You remembered,” she whispered. “It tastes just like how I made it.” stop the tears from falling. “How could

ing her face. Still facing away from

I forget?” She reached for me, and I

me, she set the bowl down on the night

fell into her arms. As the smell of her

table beside her. My father followed

jasmine perfume became everything I

generasian.org

you sure? I don’t know if…” She cupped my face in a gentle palm and smiled. “How could I forget?”

At the sound of her voice, I couldn’t

bowl, her head down, long hair cover-

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I drew back, uncertain. “Are

Catherine Ye is a Junior studying biology in CAS with a minor in Psychology.

A Taste to Remember 11

DIGGING DEEPER: BEHIND THE TIGER MOM by Amelie Zhao

myself: ‘See, saw, seen, seeing. Do, did, done, doing. Run, ran, ran, running.’” Careers, too, is a subject with no room for negotiation when you have Asian parents—so the stereotype says. We all know about the three golden career paths some Asian parents aspire for their children to follow: medicine, engineering, or law. My friends can recall their “career talks” with their Asian parents: “My parents flat-out said I shouldn’t become an artist” and “my parents freaked out when I said I wanted to do psychology” are frequent comments exchanged half-jokingly kwfd.baike.com

between Asian children. One girl’s mother “broke down crying” when

ere’s a riddle. Who has

children come home with any grade

she declared she wanted to become a

black hair and yellow

below an “A.” But how much truth is

teacher. Though many Asian parents’

there to this Asian Parent stereotype?

reactions are not as exaggerated, the

skin, controls your life, and cares about nothing but your grades?

Jessica J. recalls her childhood with

three most frequently whispered career

Asian Parents. We know them as

her “Tiger Dad,” an immigrant from

choices for their children remain in

uptight, controlling and obsessive about

Hong Kong to Northern California.

medicine, engineering, and law.

their children’s academic achievement. They have nothing in mind but a roadmap of their child’s future, with Harvard, Yale, and Princeton as one of the final destinations. They will disown any children with career aspirations out-

Here’s a riddle. Who has black hair and yellow skin, controls your life, and cares about nothing but your grades?

side of “doctor, engineer, and lawyer.”

Though the Asian Parent Stereotype has some foundation in reality, not all Asian parents fit the cookie-cutter mold. My friend Cecilia B. recalls that her father’s mantra was always, “As long as you try your best,” defying the “A’s only” expectation

The caricature of the typical Asian

that our Stereotypical Asian Par-

Parent has spread far and wide,

“My dad grew up in Hong Kong, and

ent is alleged to have. There are still,

promulgated by media (you may be

the education system there is really

however, expectations. “That said,”

familiar with the High Expectations

competitive. He tried to take the same

chortles Cecilia, “my dad wouldn’t

Asian Father meme). We’ve all heard

approach on my education to ensure

have been happy with a C or D.”

stories of Asian parents enrolling

that I was top of my class. It was a

their children in after-school tutor-

bit overwhelming in my childhood. I

Parent Stereotype by looking at the

ing programs and standardized test

remember, when every other kid was

specific regions of Asia it targets, as well

preparatory classes; of Asian parents

watching television at home, I was

as stereotypes about race in general in

doling out punishments when their

facing my wall and memorizing to

the United States. Upon closer inspec-

12 Commentary

We can further debunk the Asian

tion, the Asian Parent Stereotype

from early morning to after dinner. We

behind their parents’ actions. “My par-

seems to extend to East Asian parents

lived in a tiny basement with two bed-

ents are not tiger parents,” claims Viv-

only. Other immigrant groups are not

rooms, one of which my three siblings

ian Ni, whose parents emigrated from

included in this stereotype, the reasons

and I shared. We cooked, ate, and stud-

Cambodia to the United States. “After a

for which are rooted in the way Ameri-

ied in the same room. It was cold in our

terrible ordeal suffered in their home

can society perceives East Asian im-

basement home but we did not turn on

country, they came to America because

migrants. Generally, when it comes to

the heat because we could not afford it.”

there were better opportunities out

the East Asian demographic, Americans

tw.myblog.yahoo.com

attach concepts such as

here for their offspring – for us. They just want

academically success-

their children to lead

ful, disciplined, and

happy lives – happy

hardworking to them.

and successful lives.”

These stereotypes may

It seems that there

have stemmed from

is much more to the

observing the Asian-

Stereotypical Asian

American immigrant

Parent than just obsess-

population, or may be

ing over grades and

derived from cultural

pushing their children

values of the “far East.”

to be overachievers.

What we can gener-

Once we dig a little

ally conclude is that

deeper, we find out

Asian parents may be

about the touching tales

more controlling and

behind these seemingly

have higher expecta-

strict authority figures

tions when it comes to

in our lives. Someday,

their children’s futures.

perhaps, we will turn

But behind the strict

around and thank them,

rules and seemingly

when we are well-

uncaring attitudes is

established adults and

a touching tale. Many

they have already faded

“Stereotypical Asian

into the backgrounds of

Parents” are often first-

our lives. Their clothes

generation immigrants to the United States, arriving with no language skills and barely two coins to rub together. The hardships they endured to secure a home for their family are prob-

Their clothes may be from five years ago and they may live in a tiny apartment, but they sent you to the best high school and tutoring programs and then college. Their nagging and controlling attitudes are only their way of showing they care; their work isn’t done until they see you settled and safe.

may be from five years ago and they may live in a tiny apartment, but they sent you to the best high school and tutoring programs and then college. Their nagging and control-

ably experiences they

ling attitudes are only

do not want their own

their way of showing

children to face. Jessica tells the story of

Vivid memories of such hardships

they care; their work isn’t done until

her immigrant parents: “My whole fam-

may be what motivate these Asian

they see you settled and safe. As my

ily immigrated to the United States ten

parents to drive their children hard: so

own father and mother put it, “All we

years ago. For the first two years, my

that their offspring can have better lives

really want is for you to be happy.”

parents were not able to secure jobs due

than they did. And while many children

to their poor English skills. To maintain

of these Stereotypical Asian Parents do

our household income, my father some-

not fondly recall their strict upbring-

times had to work two part-time jobs

ings, some are aware of the motivation

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Amelie Zhao is a senior majoring in Finance and Accounting in Stern.

Digging Deeper: Behind the Tiger Mom 13

TOO SEXY FOR KOREA— BUT NOT FOR US!

Rain’s World (2006): Rain, going shirtless and glossy, for his fourth album cover.

by Victoria Lee

he popularity of K-pop has risen

and augmenting their muscular builds

“too sexy” in her

tremendously in the United States

by flexing their muscles and oiling up

provocative danc-

and in many other countries outside

their bodies. In most instances, as the

ing and wardrobe

of South Korea. Although the appeal

performance becomes steamier, the

choice. In her song

of K-pop may seem to lie in the cool

screams of adulation get even louder. In

choreography, the upbeat background

one of their performances of their hit

music, and charismatic musicians,

song Heartbeat, not only did the boys

it is difficult to deny that fan service

captivate fans by going shirtless, glossy

(purposely acting in a manner as to

with sweat, but they did so encaged

solicit a reaction from fans) has much

within a clear box! They surely fulfilled

to do with its popularity. On live stage,

a multitude of girls’ fantasies that night.

many artists take on a cute persona

Meanwhile, girl group Rainbow went

while others choose to take on a dark,

under fire with Korean media authori-

mysterious image. One of the most

ties in 2010. In their choreography, they

Bubble Pop, she is

popular forms of fan service, however,

lifted their shirts a little above the belly

criticized for her

involves playing up one’s sensuality.

button in their song A. If shirt-lifting

short-shorts and the

Although I enjoyed watching male

were a criteria for getting one banned,

portion of her choreogra-

idols strip out of their shirts in an at-

then Bi Rain’s Love Song and MBLAQ’s

phy that involves her “popping”

tempt to glorify their toned muscles,

Oh Yeah would have been removed from

her rear to the viewers. Un-

I had felt a little awkward watching

media immediately after their releases.

surprisingly, the Korea Broad-

female idols bend a little too far down

And although technically Rain’s Love

casting and Communications

to show off their long legs. At first

Song was indeed banned, it wasn’t

Review Committee decided

attributing my distaste simply to my

because of the stripping scene in the

to ban Bubble Pop as well.

own sexual preference, I was surprised

choreography, nor was it due to his bed

Whether female artists show

when both my male and female friends

scene with a popular female actress.

less or the same amount of

expressed their discomfort by com-

He had violated traffic safety laws in

skin than the male coun-

menting, “Their shorts are too short”,

his music video. There was no mention

terparts, it seems that

or “She is trying too hard to be sexy.”

of his sensual choreography or racy

any baring of the skin

With this in mind, I began to notice this

bedroom sequences. In fact, for a special

is enough to draw

heightened standard for female sensu-

performance of Rain’s Rainism, the

harsh criticism.

ality in numerous comments posted on

solo artist was cheered on by hundreds

music videos, blogs, and entertainment

of fans as he showed off his powerful

we find it more

news sites. As if opinions of fans were

hip thrusts and pole dancing skills. In

propriate for

not enough of an indicator as to the

contrast, the girl group Sistar found its

K-pop idols to

gap between between male and female

song How Dare You banned by KBS, par-

their sensu-

K-pop idols, media authorities also

tially for its brief inclusion of stripper

seem to contribute to this polarization.

poles in their music video, despite the

Take for example the popular JYP

Why exactly do inapfemale display ality? One explanation may lie in our views

absence of any actual pole dancing. Last

on what is

idol group 2PM, known for ripping

but not least, HyunA of the group 4min-

for different cultures. In other words,

their shirts off in live performances

ute is under constant criticism for being

when we cringe at HyunA’s videos, we

14 Arts & Culture

deemed appropriate

forget that even the most promiscuous

ships between stars. Furthermore,

moting their hit song Buttons, the girls

K-pop videos seem modest in compari-

to non-Korean speaking Americans,

swayed their hips seductively, clad only

son to the music videos and lyrics of

the inability to understand the lyr-

in miniskirts and short-shorts. Like

popular American artists, such as the

ics allows for blissful ignorance of the

RaNia, a sequence in their choreogra-

Pussycat Dolls and Britney Spears.

fact that artists may not be as innocent

phy involved spreading their legs to

Our image of the sweet East Asian

as their lyrics make them out to be.

the audience. Unlike RaNia, however,

girl begins to crumble as we imag-

As a result, cultural ideologies may

the Pussycat Dolls were never asked

ine the same girls who have made

play a large role in the heightened stan-

it in the industry by projecting a

dard for female K-pop artists. When

cute image showing us their ‘assets’

Korean girl group Rania debuted in 2011

only allow these displays on sensual-

through more provocative

to modify their dance in any way. Other songs in American culture not

under the production of American pro-

ity, but also amplify them. The artists

methods. Indeed, this

ducer Teddy Riley, two versions of the

who collaborated for the remake of

air of innocence is

song Dr. Feel Good were released—one

the song Lady Marmalade donned only

in English and one in Korean. Between

flashy corsets and various skimpy

these two versions, there were slight

pieces of sexy lingerie. In fact, the

augmented by the

differences in the respective music videos. These differences were most apparent in the change in camera angle, notably a close-up of the girls’ crotches in the English version, while in the

Whether female artists show less or the same amount of skin than the male counterparts, it seems that any baring of the skin is enough to draw harsh criticism.

Korean version, the shot was Cute vs. Sexy: The girl group Korean music compaRainbow tries it both ways and nies themselves, who comes under fire when they do usually prohibit their the latter. Photo Sources: DSP Media, artists from dating kpopstarz.com

while nu-

zoomed out. Despite these alterations,

lyrics practically scream ‘sex’—the

RaNia has been forced to change their

chorus literally translates to “do you

choreography for Dr. Feel Good when

want to sleep with me tonight?”

performing on publicly broadcasted

part in determining whether certain

choreography was edited to exclude a

music is accepted into the music indus-

sequence in which the girls spread their

try. In the American music industry, it

legs, including instead a sequence

is well-known that ‘sex sells’, and many

in which the girls shuffle back and forth to the music. From the conservative nature

ever, this marketing strategy is clearly terparts who are looking to break into

of K-pop as well.

the American music scene. Although

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have depicted explicit relationREAD OUR BLOG

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some fans support their bold moves into the industry, most Americans do not, mainly due to cultural expectations of

formances of

what a proper K-pop idol should be—

American

cute, bright, and innocent. As a result,

idols

we must ask the question: “Will female

such as

ality TV shows

not applicable to their Korean coun-

influences our notions In contrast,

American re-

Cyrus) use it to their advantage when promoting their music or album. How-

when we ob-

merous

female artists (most recently Miley

these examples, we can see of Korean media, which

Promotional shot for RaNia’s Dr. Feel Good. Photo Source: kourier.co

Ultimately, sensuality plays a big

music shows in Korea. The original

Pussycat Dolls, do not feel awkward gazing at their sensual dance moves; instead, we anticipate them. When pro-

the we

K-pop idols ever make it big knowing that they may not have access to one of the major marketing strategies?” G Victoria is a junior in the Prehealth Program in CAS.

Too Sexy for Korea—But Not for US! 15

as a monk Shaolin (2011): Jackie Chan This is a Fu. g Kun olin Sha in trained master role arts tial mar variation on the Chan has become known for.

MORE THAN KUNG FU

Missing in Action: Asians in Film by Nicole Bernardo

ovies are meant to trans-

from the silver screen. Apart

port the audience. Whether

from a few well-known

Asian Americans, or just Asians in general, have notoriously been missing from the silver screen.

through a fantastical or realistic

actors and actresses mainly

reflection, films frequently por-

known for action or mar-

tray the people we hope to be or the

tial arts movies (think Jackie Chan,

worlds we might live in. We can see

Bruce Lee, Ken Watanabe, and Lucy

In 1957, Japanese actress Miyoshi

ourselves in the comically dysfunc-

Liu), there is a void where an entire

Umeki was the first Asian actress to

tional family or imagine saving the

race should be. Young people today

win an Oscar, and even then, “For much

world as a government vigilante. So

can idolize white, black, and Latino

of the 20th century, movies or plays

as an Asian American, why don’t

actors and actresses as they domi-

featuring Asian characters used actors

I see myself reflected back?

nate the film industry romanticizing

without accounting for the distinctions

Asian Americans, or just Asians in general, have notoriously been missing 16 Arts & Culture

martial arts masters to look up to.

and exaggerating our lives, but Asian

among various ethnic groups,” (The

children are left with little more than

Seattle Times). Though she received

the Academy Award for her role as a

able to recognize Lee as he traveled to

Japanese woman in Sayonara, Umeki

premieres, but Americans were oddly

actresses to the foreign film category

went on to play a Chinese bride in

quiet, often not even noticing him as he

or spurning them as relatable lead

Flower Drum Song the next year. Now

walked past them on the street. Asian

roles leaves much to be desired in our

that we’re well into the 21st century, the

actors and actresses simply don’t get

movie experience. They are capable of

realization that not all Asians look alike

publicized in America, so the fan base

being the next super spy, femme fatale,

or are the same is long overdue. Asian

is small for these overseas imports.

or tragic hero. With each overseas

actors are capable of intensive and demanding

Asian actors and actresses simply don’t get publicized in America.

lead

This may be changing, as mov-

Relegating Asian actors and

Asian actor who wants to break into

ies such as the upcoming Trans-

American film, there are multitudes

formers 4 expand their casts to

of Asian American actors in the U.S.

include Asian actors in lead roles.

as well. Perhaps it’s high time to

With Chinese actors Han Geng

demand for more than just kung fu.

and Li Bingbing to appear besides

roles, not just of portraying

well-known names like

predictable stereotypes.

Mark Wahlberg and Kelsey

The struggles of Asian actors in the

Grammar, the American

Asian actors are capable of intensive and demanding lead roles, not just of portraying predictable stereotypes.

American film industry is exemplified

movie era excluding Asians

in popular Korean actor Lee Byung-

may be coming to a close (Fox

hun. A well-established actor in Asia,

News). It is assumed that the

Lee most recently broke into the Hol-

inclusion of Chinese stars

lywood scene with movies such as Red 2

specifically in Hollywood is because of

(2013) and G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013). In

the growing Chinese market. With over

a special documentary entitled “Rookie

a billion residents and a huge appetite

Lee Byung Hun and Hollywood” that

for consumer goods and entertainment,

was released in Korea on July 28, 2013,

China is seen as a potential for great

Lee discussed his long career and his

profit. “This is enough to make the stu-

recent experience in American films

dios develop new strategies to capitalize

(Korea JoonAng Daily). What’s most

on this; and the most obvious way is

striking is Lee’s discomfort at being a

to cast a movie with a ‘star’ that gives

“nobody” once again in America, de-

you penetration and profile in these im-

spite his successful career in Asia. Fans

portant territories,” says Beacon Films

in Australia of the G.I. Joe movie were

producer Mark Pennell (Fox News).

Nicole Bernardo is a freshman majoring in English and American Literature in CAS.

Photo source: IMDB.com

Byung-hun Lee at a G.I. Joe: Retaliation event

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Ken Watanabe in Inception

generasian.org

Bruce Lee in Fists of Fury

Lucy Liu in The Man with the Iron Fists

More Than Kung Fu 17

de·fined

/di-ˈfīnd/

Featured Artists: Rachel Liu and Tina Yu and Larry Wu

JONATHAN CHOW current struggle

“I’m here working on the Eagle Scout project. Our project is planting flowers in Washington Square, but the guy from the district office feels that there should be more-- that there should be a secondary part. It’s my responsibility to come up with that.”

18 Arts & Culture

JESSICA MAILIM

current struggle “My sunglasses are hiding a scar on my face. I feel like when I meet people, they don’t always look past that scar.”

READ OUR BLOG

generasian.org

JOELLE FERNANDEZ advice

“You never know how someone will impact your life.”

current struggle “Balancing my interests with the way the world works in terms of making money.”

20 Arts & Culture

IRIS LEUNG advice

“Take advantage of school resources, such as mentors and equipment, while you still have access to them.”

happiest moment “Right now in the sun!”

saddest moment “I’ve yet to encounter a saddest moment.”

SAM KONG advice

“Don’t worry too much about money or grades. Your parents aren’t READ OUR BLOG

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always right. Follow your gut.”

The Angry Asian American 21

HARUTAKA SAKITA & TATSUYA SAKITA advice “Whatever you do, make sure you have fun with it.”

22 Arts & Culture

Japanese people react to Tokyo winning the 2020 Olympic bid Greg Baker, Associated Press

2020 OLYMPICS: by Eugene Cheng

Can the Land of the Rising Sun Rise to Meet This Challenge?

okyo recently obtained the 2020

9 billion dollars to host the Olympic

with its endless amount of debt, expect

Summer Olympic bid over Istanbul

Games, while the 2008 Beijing Olympics

to finance such an ambitious project?

and Madrid this September, marking

cost China a whopping 20 billion dol-

The large sums of money being spent on

the return of the Games to the island

lars to host . Funding the Olympics not

the 2016 Games in Brazil, coupled with

nation for the first time since 1964.

only involves building the facilities for

spending on the 2012 World Cup, have

Many, especially the Japanese people,

the various sporting events that would

incited uproar amongst the Brazilian

are excited that the coveted Games are

take place, but also includes creat-

people, who believe that their govern-

returning to the land of the rising sun.

ing living area for athletes, providing

ment is undermining more essential

The Games could potentially serve as

transportation, and renovating current

issues, such as health care and educa-

a positive opportunity to boost Japan’s

infrastructure, such as hotels, to ac-

tion, resulting in large riots and pro-

moral and national pride. Others view

commodate foreign guests, making the

tests within Brazil. While Japan might

the 2020 games as the catalyst that

total costs difficult to gauge. When Rio

not see unrest of the same magnitude,

will reinvigorate the nation’s stagnant

de Janeiro won the 2016 Olympic bid

the Japanese people will definitely feel

economy. But with the country’s grim

back in 2011, the Brazilian government

uneasy that their country’s assets will

economic climate, combined with the

had estimated that the Games would

be directed towards building infra-

problems associated with the Fuku-

cost a little over 9 billion dollars. With

structure for a two week event, rather

shima nuclear plant, is Japan truly the

three years left before the 2016 Games,

addressing more pressing issues, such

best candidate to host the Games?

Brazil has already spent an astound-

as healthcare. In fact, signs of Japan’s

ing 15 billion dollars on the Olympic

inability to keep up with the costs of the

lars, 230% of the nation’s GDP, the

Games, a figure that will likely continue

Games have already come to light, as

highest GDP-debt ratio of any coun-

to skyrocket. Just this past August, the

the size of the main Olympic stadium

try in the world, skeptics doubt the

Brazilian Olympic committee asked for

has been downsized due to high costs

country’s ability to undertake such

another 700 million dollars of public

of the original stadium. Moreover,

an expensive event. The London 2012

funding for the 2016 Games. With these

the idea that the high expenses of the

Olympics cost the UK approximately

astronomical costs, how does Japan,

Olympic Games will somehow be offset

With a debt of over 10 trillion dol-

READ OUR BLOG

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2020 Olympics: Can the Land of the Rising Sun Meet This Challenge? 23

by the Games’ potential economic is

phe, having had to seek help from other

their government, and the country

simply not true. The London 2012

countries, such as the US and the UK,

as a whole, will be able to mitigate

Olympics increased the UK’s GDP by

to deal with the issue. With all these

the nation’s economic and environ-

a measly 0.2. Furthermore, a study

environmental problems associated

mental problems. Company worker

done by the UK Office of National

with the Fukushima plant and its grim

Mitsushi Matsufuji says that he is

Statistics indicated that there was no

prognosis, it seems doubtful that all will

willing to “trust the government

correlation found between the London

be resolved within the next seven years.

to take care of the problems in

2012 Olympics and any increases in

Even if Japan manages to patch up all

Fukushima. It’s going to be tough

employment. The fact of the matter is,

the problems associated with their

to organize the Games, but this is

the 2020 Japanese Olympics probably

nuclear plant, people in the internation-

our chance to tell the rest of the

won’t have any significant positive

al community will still worry of the po-

world that Japan is OK.”11 Mean-

net effect on the Japanese economy.

tential health hazards. Even if the Japa-

while, Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose

Japan’s environmental setbacks

nese government continues to assure

believes that the Games will give

related to the Fukushima power plant

that Fukushima will not be an issue by

Japan an economic boost, adding

further call into question the island na-

2020, their assurances will not assuage

“It’s all ahead of us…Let’s all pull

tion’s suitability spot as Olympic host.

the concerns of people from other coun-

together as a nation.” Even with all

The situation in Fukushima, which was

tries, especially with something as dan-

the challenges that confront them,

gerous and volatile as nuclear radiation.

the Japanese people seem un-

Even with all the challenges that confront them, the Japanese people seem unfazed and are determined to make their Olympic Games a success.

Despite the impending wave of problems that Japan will face in preparing for the 2020 Olympic Games, there

fazed and are determined to make their Olympic Games a success. Even with all signs showing that

is hope that the games will bring about

Japan may not have been the ideal

some benefits. Japan’s announcement as

choice for Olympic host, it is still

future Olympic host has already begun

too early to fully predict Japan’s

adversely affected by the 2011 Japa-

to boost the morale of a country going

viability as a host and the effects

nese earthquake and tsunami, caus-

through economic and environmental

that the Olympics would have on

ing severe leakages of nuclear waste

devastation. Former Olympic marathon

Japan. For now, the Japanese people

into the surrounding bodies of water,

runner Yuko Arimori said that “The

should celebrate and rejoice over

is uncertain at best. As of September,

children of Fukushima haven’t been

this tremendous honor of being

Fukushima had over 90 million gallons

able to play sports outside…When I

named the host of the 2020 Olym-

of radioactive water stored within

think of how happy they will be with

pics. At the same time, the Japanese

it, enough toxic water to fill Yankee

this news, I’m just very glad.” Three-

people and government must be

stadium, with an additional 400 tons

time women’s wrestling gold medalist

wary of the challenges and con-

of toxic water flowing into the Pacific

and bid ambassador Saori Yoshida adds

sequences they will face leading

Ocean daily. Additionally, new leaks are

that “The chance to see the highest

up to, and after, the 2020 Games.

reported weekly by the plant’s operator,

level of sport live is a great chance for

Tepco. More distressing is the Japanese

everyone, and as an Olympic athlete I’m

government seems to be at a loss as to

thrilled.“Furthermore, most Japanese

how to properly deal with the catastro-

people are optimistic and believe that

Telegraph.co.uk: Nuclear experts inspecting the Fukushima power plant 24 World

Eugene Cheng is a sophomore majoring in Chemistry in CAS.

Telegraph.co.uk: The Japanese stock market continues to struggle

MEET MY BOYFRIEND, MR. TALL-RICH-HANDSOME by Amelie Zhao

iffany L. has not paid or her food, clothes, and entertainment for an

dating culture in Chinese society. The words “gaofushuai” and “baifu-

calendar.activedatax.com

can, in fact, be quite stinging without meaning to be. After all, calling some-

entire year – and no, she does not have

mei” are, in reality, used jokingly and

one gaofushuai or baifumei is essentially

unlimited access to her daddy’s credit

in slightly derogatory ways in everyday

making a judgment on his or her social

card. She has simply been dating.

conversation. The people to whom these

status, and there are some who feel

descriptions apply are not necessar-

negative pressures from these labels.

Has she found her Prince Charming? you ask.

ily held in high regard, and oftentimes

The values reflected in the gao-

Not at all.

these terms are flung around flippantly

fushuai and baifumei phenomenon

Ladies, say good-bye to Prince

between friends and acquaintances

also transfer to the dating scene in

Charming and hello to the new la-

as jokes. The frequent references to

modern-day China. China’s swift

dies’ man – gaofushuai. He’s tall, he’s

these terms, however, reflect current

economic growth and growing in-

rich, and he’s incredibly handsome;

values in Chinese culture. China’s

come disparity has turned marriage

what more could you want in a guy?

recent and rapid economic develop-

into a matter of practicality, not

ment has resulted in large disparities

love. In China nowadays, there are

between rich and poor, creating an

only three qualifying criteria for an

Let’s peel back the Prada suit and take a look into our hero’s backstory.

imbalance in society that largely shifted

ideal man: car, house, and high sal-

nated in China and literally translates

The term “gaofushuai,” in fact, origi-

national values to a more materialis-

ary. Many young Chinese women set

to “tall, rich, and handsome.” It is used

tic and appearance-based culture.

out to find their future soulmate with

to describe the qualities of an ideal guy

I remember my first real conver-

these practical qualities in mind.

in Chinese society. The counterpart for

sation with a Chinese guy. When I

a girl, “baifumei” reflects the desir-

brought up one of my girlfriends’

not unique to China; many American-

able values in the ideal Chinese girl:

names, his immediate reaction was:

born Chinese also carry these values

white, rich, and pretty. But this is no

“Is she pretty?” I remember feeling

with them when looking for the ideal

tale of a prince and princess falling

shocked and slightly offended; but as I

marriage partner. One of my American-

in love and living happily ever after;

assimilated more into Chinese culture,

born Chinese friends once told me

this is the story of a changing soci-

I grew to learn that looks and riches

about his meeting with his girlfriend’s

ety giving rise to a set of values that

are treated as casual, everyday top-

parents. “We had only been dating for a

ics, spoken of quite flippantly at the

month,” he said, “and she asked me over

dinner table or in snatches of gossip.

to dinner one night. What I thought

fundamentally affect the

Although being referred to as tall, rich, and handsome may seem

tually a one and-a-half hour interview

like a compliment, people pos-

with her parents. I was asked about my job, my current salary, my rent, my

uai and baifumei are not neces-

career plans … heck, they even asked

who strongly opposes throwing these terms around so offhanded-

generasian.org

would be a nice, relaxing dinner was ac-

sessing the qualities of gaofushsarily admired. I have a friend

READ OUR BLOG

What’s surprising is, this mindset is

if my parents had a retirement fund! “I broke it off with her the next day,” he finished.

ly. He views these labels as shal-

It is understandable that parents

low values of Chinese culture that

want the best for their children, and

rerez on DeviantArt: “Future Boy Conan”

Meet My Boyfriend, Mr. Tall-Rich-Handsome 25

clothes, food, and entertainment for an entire year, but not because she had her daddy’s credit card. The baifumei woman was infamous for dating a string of gaofushuai who paid for her every whim and need. She used every single dating app to find potential candidates, and then screened them through an extremely crafty method, which was relayed to me. “On the first date,” recounted my friend, “you call the guy and tell them that you’re sick, and that you might need to be picked up at your house. You can then see what kind of car they drive when they pull up at your house. If they step out of a cab, don’t even bother going downstairs. “Once you get into his car, you ask him a few light questions about his day at work to get an approximate idea of his current career standing. You’ll observe his manners carefully during the first date, including where he takes you for dinner, and what kind of food he orders. At the end of the night, you insinuate for him to invite you home – to which, I’m sure, he’ll gladly oblige.” He chuckled. “In one night, you’ve screened the three qualifying requirements – car, job, and house – and can decide whether you want oneinchpunch.net

“On the first date, you call the guy and tell them that you’re sick, and that you might need to be picked up at your house. You can then see what kind of car they drive when they pull up at your house. If they step out of a cab, don’t even bother going downstairs.”

to continue this … ‘relationship.’” It may seem daunting how practical and commercialized the dating scene has become in Chinese society, whether in China or in the Chinese community in America. The real question is: is this just a passing phase, framed in the current shifting socioeconomic context of modern-day China? Is the current state of Chinese society, where

marrying into a well-off family is

ing websites and apps are springing

values are represented by gaofush-

one of the crucial stepping-stones

up left and right. Instead of matching

uai and baifumei, only temporary, or

to guaranteeing a comfortable life.

people by personality, though, they

will young men and women in China

However, these practical values have

pair people up according to require-

forever live in the glitz and glamour

allowed dating to become highly com-

ments in height, looks, and wealth.

of a practical, materialistic world?

mercialized. Matchmaking events

Over the summer, my high school

are quickly becoming extremely

friend told me one of the most memo-

profitable, with women paying to

rable dating stories I’ve heard. His

learn to date a gaofushuai, and dat-

coworker at work had not paid for her

26 World

Amelie Zhao is a senior majoring in Finance and Accounting in Stern.

Illustration By Diane Nguyen

: N O T I PASS THE RISE OF THE ENGT LISH-ONLY here are basic questions you

ask when meeting a new per-

son: “What is your name? How old

by Jolene Hsu

are you? What’s your major?” But for many Asian Americans, the conversation inevitably lands on “where are

in language schools from a young age.

urging her to learn Mandarin. Hu, like

you from?” which leads to things like,

Across the nation, there are hundreds of

most second generation kids, speaks

“Say something in Korean.” “Can you

Korean and Chinese language schools,

fluently in her heritage language. She

teach me something in Mandarin?”

as well as Hindi, Tagalog, Japanese and

can “articulate [her] thoughts, hold a

and “How do you say my name in

others. These schools are typically pop-

conversation and watch the news” in

Tagalog?” Unfortunately, this is the

ulated with children of native speakers,

Chinese. “I don’t understand Chinese

general interrogation that nineteen

attending class for two or three hours

slang…[but] I would survive in China.”

year old Richard Lu must endure

on the weekend to learn their heritage

within first few minutes of reveal-

language. Not only do students learn the

tion of second generation offspring are

ing that he is of Chinese descent. “I

language, but they learn more of their

not fluent in their second language.

can understand basic things that are

cultural heritage as well through school

Eighteen year old Christina Somphone

said, but I cannot speak it whatsoever”