It's a phrase I've heard all too many times, a phrase that has always alienated me to an extent, a phrase that has always made me out to be some sort of "traitor"...
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| The theme of this blog is "The Office," my all time favorite show, so expect to see it in future posts as well!! |
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I'm also not "white" enough to escape Asian-American stereotypes, either. My eyes are nonexistent, I'm bad at sports and driving, I don't have free time because I'm constantly hunched over a computer screen or math homework, and rice is the only thing my Asian digestive system can take. I can't talk about school because it's "easier" for me (and that's just unfair). College admissions should automatically judge my academic record more harshly than my non-Asian counterparts because the only way to create equality is to create inequality, right?
It's a classic lose-lose situation, "neither tension nor relaxation [helps]" (Hong Kingston 35). Either way, I can't win, and neither can anyone who has ever placed under a stigma by society. Stereotyping is so common that many have been desensitized to it, causing for it to continue unnoticed. In the words of David Foster Wallace, "the most obvious, ubiquitous, important realities are often the ones hardest to see and talk about," but as long as we keep looking for it, keep talking, the social injustices posed by stereotypes will still be recognized. In the end, "reporting is the [best] vengeance" (Hong Kingston 53).
**Although it may not seem like it in this post, I do love being an Asian-American, "Woman Warriors" simply sparked this train of thought.**
Firstly, this blog is great, how could you go wrong with The Office?! And if I haven't said it already, I love the theme of your blog with all the Netflix shows and how you incorporate them into your blogs! But secondly, you did such an awesome job using two of the stories we talked about it class and relating them to typical stereotypes that you, and others, and constantly told. Overall I really enjoyed reading this blog! The Office is also my fav show :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this post. I can relate to just about everything that you said, but I've learned to just embrace it. I think that being Asian-American is such a great thing because you get the best of both worlds. But I do understand and experience the negative stereotypes that come with it everyday. It's easy to let it slide because it's a joke to a lot of people, even to myself sometimes, but it's something that should be brought to the surface.
ReplyDeleteNice post! I like all the Office memes and how you quoted Kingston! It is unfair how college admissions look at Asians purely because of a stereotype, but I guess that's all stereotypes. There's a good side and a bad one.
ReplyDeleteELISE I loved the pictures that went along with your post... The Office was the perfect show to choose for this post because it is a very stereotypical often, and uses it as humor (often times similar to real life).
ReplyDeleteElise! I loved this! I think that it expressed the feelings of many at Troy High, including myself. I always catch myself trying to defend myself when someone calls me "white" even though I should not have to. No one should have to defend themselves for acting a certain way, for acting like themselves.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Elise! I really loved how you seamlessly blended the often stereotypical nature of "The Office" with quotes from both "This is Water" and "White Tigers". This really strengthened your argument. I also love how you said it take inequality to create equality in your point about college admissions. I found this very relatable and unfair as well. I loved reading your post and I look forward to reading more of them in he future!
ReplyDeleteI love this! It is so original and LOL at the kids who grouped you as white in our math class!! This is a great blog post
ReplyDeletePs I feel pretty blessed to be featured in your Google profile pic! Pps you're good at sports
ReplyDeleteHi Elise,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post! I agree that sometimes it seems you just can't satisfy people; in your case, you are both too "white" and too "Asian" at the same time. Yet by writing this and many other thoughtful, powerful posts, I think you've proven that there is obviously a lot in that skull of yours and you have many important things to say. I also like how you related your experiences in the end to all three pieces that we discussed in class this past week.