Stereotypes huh? Honestly it's quite a difficult thing to pin point. In many ways stereotypes are good, then in so many more ways they are terrible. Just a story about a simple and plain Asian girl. What did you see first? Perhaps you saw a short girl with glasses? What about long side braids? How about carrying several heavy books? Maybe even all of them combined??
Just my naive thought, stereotypes must be what people meant when they said not to judge a book by their cover. Just as horrible this stereotype may seems, the simple things behind this stereotype apply to an Asian girls life in so many ways. Is it just me? I seem to always hear comments about being Asian. I'm
sure most of these comments are not
negative. I mean how can being Asian be so wrong? What's wrong with trying your best in school to live an easier life later? I can't stand it when people tell me that "I'm just naturally smart." I don't hate this phrase because I don't want to be stereotyped, but rather it's just not true (I'm just not naturally smart). Honestly speaking, how could I not like knowing that people don't think I'm an idiot. It's honey to the ear; how could anyone dislike it? What drives me nuts is to see how so few understand that behind the scenes people invest a lot of time and effort to succeed. Sure it's nice for everyone to believe that Asians are born geniuses, I don't mind when people look to me for help. It's just that, every so often I wish that I wasn't Asian. Sometimes I look at the people around me and I realize that I am left further and further behind. My legs won't carry me fast enough to be first in the race and my appearance definitely won't get me anywhere close to
being queen bee. Although I spend three fourths of my day locked up studying, my brain just can't compare with the other people of my race. Sometime I feel like Thomas from Sherman Alexie's movie, how and why should I live to be like every other Asian out there. Will the white people I live around run all over me? Being Asian isn't easy. There aren't any books or classes on how to be the stereotypical smart Asian, there just isn't. How can I live up to who I am portrayed to be!? Why does everyone generalize Asians to be outstandingly intelligent! I'm tired of this lifestyle! I struggle to live up to it! GIVE ME A BREAK! Why can't I just be some pretty blond girl and find a nice man to live my simple life with? Why do I have to be some successful lawyer or a life saving doctor? I don't want that. How far with money get me? Will it find me a supportive husband? Will it give me a loving family? Sometime, not sometimes, every day I look to the heavens above and I send my gratitude to God. I'm so thankful that I have a supportive family. I can always return home knowing that my parents always got my back. I guess having the stereotypical Asian parents are the last thing I need.
Lastly I wish all my fellow Asian buddies good luck in finding what your passion! Having something you enjoy is never a bad thing! I guess an extreme would be like Victor's father, but it's nice to have something you can relate to. If you can't find anything I'm sure k-pop will give you a good laugh when you need it! :)
*the part with the blond..intentional hypocrisy to portray what it's like in the real world. One will pity themselves and fail to see other peoples struggles.
being queen bee. Although I spend three fourths of my day locked up studying, my brain just can't compare with the other people of my race. Sometime I feel like Thomas from Sherman Alexie's movie, how and why should I live to be like every other Asian out there. Will the white people I live around run all over me? Being Asian isn't easy. There aren't any books or classes on how to be the stereotypical smart Asian, there just isn't. How can I live up to who I am portrayed to be!? Why does everyone generalize Asians to be outstandingly intelligent! I'm tired of this lifestyle! I struggle to live up to it! GIVE ME A BREAK! Why can't I just be some pretty blond girl and find a nice man to live my simple life with? Why do I have to be some successful lawyer or a life saving doctor? I don't want that. How far with money get me? Will it find me a supportive husband? Will it give me a loving family? Sometime, not sometimes, every day I look to the heavens above and I send my gratitude to God. I'm so thankful that I have a supportive family. I can always return home knowing that my parents always got my back. I guess having the stereotypical Asian parents are the last thing I need.
Same, Jessie. Saaame.
ReplyDeleteBut I liked how you focused on the Asian stereotype in your post, as we never really went over that in any of the pieces we talked about in class. Sometimes it seems that African and Native Americans have the "classic" stereotypes and injustices, and often Asian Americans are left out of the picture, so I'm glad you gave us some glory.
Lots of emotion, too. It's ok, I getchu, Jessie.
OMG JESSIE i see how you incorporated that got7 pic. haha it fits perfectly with your blog post! I totally agree with your aspect on the "Asian stereotype" of study study study and I'm sure other kids feel the same in many ways. I totally totally totally understand how you're thinking right now and yeah it's really hard to deal with that kind of stereotypes, but we can do this! I feel you girl~hwaiting! haha
ReplyDeleteThis explanation is "just right". I can totally relate to this post and can see how people are very annoyed by this typical Asian stereotype. I love that you expressed a lot of emotion on you stand with your punctuation and questions. *Thumbs up*
ReplyDeleteThis explanation is "just right". I can totally relate to this post and can see how people are very annoyed by this typical Asian stereotype. I love that you expressed a lot of emotion on you stand with your punctuation and questions. *Thumbs up*
ReplyDeleteThis was so good. I loved how you showed that sometimes stereotypes can benefit someone, but at the same time its the exact same stereotype that hurts when you can't live up to it. I think you have a really unique view on situations and I can't wait to hear more from you!
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to this post. I loved how you talked about how hard it is to live up to stereotypes, because I deal with that myself. I think your emotion made your post more powerful, as well as your mentioning of the blonde girl stereotype.
ReplyDeleteJessie, I loved your post. I can totally relate to this with the Asian parents and the grades and sometimes wishing I was not Asian. I love how you said that there is no book to teach you how to be Asian which is so true. I hope you have good luck in finding your passion too! Good Job!!
ReplyDeleteEven though you are talking about the East Asain stereotypes, I can totally relate to that of my parents. I can also relate to not feeling up to the "norm" because I'm not naturally smart or supermodel pretty either. :( But thats okay because I'm obsessed with K-Dramas and like your k-pop it makes me feel better :)
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