Yellow fever continues to affect Asian people today, mainly objectifying them to the point where they aren’t seen as humans--but rather props. It isn’t a disease--but rather a harmful racial stereotype that primarily targets Asians. Some people see Asian men and women as walking stereotypes instead of human beings. Unfortunately, much of this type of behavior is normalized in dating and socializing situations up to this day.
This practice started in World War II when military brothels were established for soldiers in the Southeast Asian region. These women were known as “comfort women”. “Comfort women” were comprised of women from Asia and the Pacific, such as Japan, Korea, China, or Indonesia. One woman would be visited by five soldiers a day--a group of comfort women would face on average, 100 soldiers. The Imperial Japanese Army gathered prostitutes to sexually exploit them, resulting in one of the largest human trafficking industries in history. As a result, the objectification of Asian women can be traced back to this traumatizing part of World War II history, causing Asian women to be given nicknames like “geisha girl” or “china doll”. Today, Asian women continue to be over-sexualized from a dark part of history.
This practice started in World War II when military brothels were established for soldiers in the Southeast Asian region. These women were known as “comfort women”. “Comfort women” were comprised of women from Asia and the Pacific, such as Japan, Korea, China, or Indonesia. One woman would be visited by five soldiers a day--a group of comfort women would face on average, 100 soldiers. The Imperial Japanese Army gathered prostitutes to sexually exploit them, resulting in one of the largest human trafficking industries in history. As a result, the objectification of Asian women can be traced back to this traumatizing part of World War II history, causing Asian women to be given nicknames like “geisha girl” or “china doll”. Today, Asian women continue to be over-sexualized from a dark part of history.
Asian women are also seen as docile and submissive people. This assumed domestic behavior generalizes a whole race’s behavior according to misinterpretation of cultural conduct. It also takes away the individuality of Asian women and relays a message that they consent to anything.
There is such a large spectrum of personalities that the diversity cannot simply be restricted by a set stereotype. I know many women who disregard how they should behave according to stereotyped standards--one who is loud with her opinions, rather than being quiet and another who preserves her independence with a job and getting a driver’s license. Asian girls and women today, including myself, are now heading towards a future that no longer holds the standard fetishized image of our race.
There needs to be a realistic outlook toward Asian people. But most of all, we need to be seen as human beings like everyone else. Asians are not objects to glorify. They aren’t walking toys for anyone to play with. We are humans and we have the right to reclaim what makes us normal people in the first place.
There is such a large spectrum of personalities that the diversity cannot simply be restricted by a set stereotype. I know many women who disregard how they should behave according to stereotyped standards--one who is loud with her opinions, rather than being quiet and another who preserves her independence with a job and getting a driver’s license. Asian girls and women today, including myself, are now heading towards a future that no longer holds the standard fetishized image of our race.
There needs to be a realistic outlook toward Asian people. But most of all, we need to be seen as human beings like everyone else. Asians are not objects to glorify. They aren’t walking toys for anyone to play with. We are humans and we have the right to reclaim what makes us normal people in the first place.