Sammy Sosa, before and now
You know those skin whitening creams that some minorities use to whiten their skin? Apparently there are health problems associated with them. One woman used it, and it made her skin so thin that it bruised easily. She also got acne. Where was she getting this skin cream?
“I never read the labels,” Mrs. Ross said. Instead, she took her cues from friends, many of them, like her, from the West Indies. “Once somebody told me Fair & White was the one they were using, I’d go to the Korean store and ask for it,” she said.
Okay then.
One Asian American woman weighed in:
Evelyn Nakano Glenn, a professor of gender and women’s studies at the University of California, Berkeley, said it was wrong to assume that skin-lightening was a cultural anachronism or an effort to negate one’s racial heritage.
“In fact, it’s a growing practice and one that has been stimulated by the companies that produce these products,” she said. “Their advertisements connect happiness and success and romance with being lighter skinned.”
Moreover, it is not as if dark-skinned women are imagining a bias, said Dr. Glenn, who is president of the American Sociological Association. “Sociological studies have shown among African-Americans and also Latinos, there’s a clear connection between skin color and socioeconomic status. It’s not some fantasy. There is prejudice against dark-skinned people, especially women in the so-called marriage market.”
Although the Japanese American Professor Glenn is married to a guy who is, um, fairer than most of the people reading this blog, I find it hard to question the connection between her personal and professional lives, especially since she and her family were interned during WWII (I bring this up only because I know people are thinking about it. See David Mura’s excellent book Where the Body Meets Memory on the connection between internment and interracial attraction). Glenn comes from a different era. I also understand her position as a sociologist. Sociologists are supposed to describe, not advocate.
Still, the lack of advocacy in general, or better yet, the lack of alternative counter-mainstream images, is astounding. People are quite open about it. Just this month, I saw this ad in the Portland Monthly:
"Live Life Beautifully"
“Live life beautifully” with “Asian eyelid surgery. Allz youse gotta do is let Dr. Emily cut up those pesky natural Asian eyelids. Something the ad doesn’t mention is that this is SURGERY, and therefore it too is not 100% safe. There’s a risk involved when trying to look White.
When we first started talking about Miss Asian Oregon, I was thinking that it was just a side activity for creating Asian American female images. I’m now beginning to see exactly how important such organizations are. We need organizations to push Asian image because the mainstream isn’t doing enough.
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I also wanted more rice than what could fit inside the wrap....
When we first started talking about Miss Asian Oregon, I was thinking that it was just a side activity for creating Asian American female images. I’m now beginning to see exactly how important such organizations are. We need organizations to push Asian image because the mainstream isn’t doing enough.
Question.
What about Asian-American men? I’m all for promoting our ladies. They are the best in my eyes but I think they get quite a bit exposure to begin with in the media.
I’m probably going to get some people to disagree with me, but I think image is more important for women than men. I think men need to stress achievement and moral conviction. We need to stress teamwork. We need to learn how to speak up more and learn how to support each other more.
I agree with your list of things we should continue to focus on, but we are doing this quite a bit already. What Asian family doesn’t stress achievement, moral conviction and teamwork? Speaking up? Yes, that’s still a WIP.
However, to claim that image for women is more important than men is a bold, unwarranted statement that I utterly disagree with. We don’t even have an image in the US. We’re invisible men to mainstream America like Ellison’s novel. And if we’re not invisible, we sure as hell aren’t portrayed as a male species.
Look at what HollyWhite’s stereotypical image of Asian-American men has gotten us into? The very same disillusioned view that we are always fighting against.
I also disagree with that assessment. Every single human being, no matter what group they belong to, has a self image issue. I mean, “saving face” is certainly not solely an Asian female thing.
Guys,
Physical image. Physical image is more important to women, which is why the Dove campaign for real beauty focuses on women alone. It’s why the fashion industry revolves around women. It’s why there are more women with eating disorders than men. Do you disagree?
I think statements like this promote sexism. Women, you are only as good as your looks, seems to be the message. Is a woman image more important than a man’s in today society? yes, but you seem to be endorsing this and promoting it.
I was wondering why you covered the MD’s contact info? its not like some private or semi private information, its her own public advertisement!
No, that’s still incorrect.
Men also have severe physical image problems. Sure, there are more eating disorders for women than men but men tend to have steroid abuse problems.
Indeed. To expand on uRB4N’s point, consider a man’s height, race, physic for example. If got a dollar for every time I heard “I like guys who are 6 ft tall” or “I only date white guys”, holy fuck…I would’ve already taken over Buffet’s spot.
This girl I know once told me, “I only like guys who are ATHLETIC.” So I made a suggestion eliciting this presumptuous image of athleticism.
“Really? Then you’d LOVE my friend. He was varsity ping pong champion for 3 years during HS!!”
She wasn’t havin’ it. So much for “image”…
Lingyai,
I think…that’s just the way it is. Is it sexist that Tyra’s America’s Next Top Model only has women? Is it sexist that female models get paid more than male models? I wouldn’t say I’m endorsing it; I’m just saying that that is the way things are. I don’t see it changing.
Haha…I covered Dr. Emily’s info for two reasons:
1. Didn’t want any crank calls
2. Didn’t want anyone getting surgery
uRB4N,
Most of the guys I know with steroid problems are either competitive athletes or bodybuilders. I think most of us are unlikely to use steroids unless we’re really into sports or bodybuilding. With women, anorexia takes place all across the board.
MaSir,
Haha…I don’t think most people in the States think of ping pongers as athletes, even though it very much is. You could be a stud by playing cricket in India or chess in Russia, but here it’s mostly the big 3: football, baseball, and basketball.
Yeah, I’d have to disagree that physical image matters more to women. I think society places more emphasis on women’s physical image than on men’s physical image.
For example, let’s take the issue of eyelid surgery. My parents constantly berate me to get it, even though I am an adult. (I only have one eyelid crease. I know, I have to be randomly lopsided.) My little brother has no eyelid creases. They have never ever told him that he needs to get eyelid surgery. I don’t want eyelid crease surgery. I concede that they are lopsided, but whatever.
I agree that female models make more, but I think it’s because their beauty and looks are objectified. Their beauty is a gendered/sexualized commodity.
Another example of how physical image is sexualized. Why do people spend so much time talking about Hilary Clinton’s clothes and Sarah Palin’s clothes? Do they realize that most politicians spend a shitload of money on their clothes too? Good suits cost thousands of dollars, be they male suits or female suits. So why do Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin get called out on their clothes? And dude, you know this pisses me off, because I am sympathizing with Sarah Palin! I feel dirty, but she does suffer from sexism. Otherwise, my opinion of her is um pretty low :p
(My captcha is the visitor. Heh.)
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