1/31 From East Asia to West Asia: Immigration, Representations, and Political Racism

Stereotypes

oversimplified caricatures that reinforce dominant ideologies while putting down disempowered voices; usually ambivalent (two interpretations)

Common Asian Stereotypes

• Yellow Peril: describes the threat of Asians in America (Japan, then China)

• Model Minority: portrays Asians as the “good” minority to denounce other people of color, especially Black and Hispanic people

Problems with Model Minority

ignores many recent immigrants and involuntary immigration struggles, such as language barriers and political underrepresentation, emphasizes an otherness

Hmong Struggles

many Hmong fled from Laos and only a few were taken to America, where many enlisted. many Hmong are uneducated and poor, relying on public service and citizenship

Asians in Hollywood

many Asians male leads are played by White people; Asian men are viewed as wacky sidekicks, asexual and unemotional nerds, or foreign villains that control their wives, while Asian women are viewed as fierce and rebellious dragon ladies or demure and gentle lotus blossoms (usually for White male lead)

Arab-American Parodoxes

viewed as both White and non-White, and racialized by religion (Islam) over biology (Middle-Eastern)

Arab-American History

before the 40s, many Arabs are seen as White but not given the same rights as Euro-Americans. after the 40s, many Arabs immigrate and bring Arab nationalism. then, after 1960s, Arabs become more politically and culturally tied to their homeland due to media portrayals arising from Arab-Israeli War

Pan-Arab Identity

a label that encompasses all Arab groups to unify them

U.S. Involvement with Arab Cuuntries

U.S. has historically aided in coups and conflicts AGAINST Arab counties, like Palestine and Iraq

Neocolonialism

control by a state over another independent state through indirect means

Media Representations for Neocolonialism

Media portray a single identity for Arab, Middle Easterners, and Muslims and a difference between Americans to show a hierarchal relationship between Americans and Arabs to justify intervention; usually portrays Arabs as backwards and dangerous terrorists

Political Racism

racism with roots in politics (policies, govt, etc.) instead of structural exclusion because of perceived inferiority/hostility; achieved through oversimplification of identity (Arab in this case) and stereotypes

Palestine and Free Speech

institutions and protests for Palestine have historically been silenced