Stereotype in Asian-American Media, Research Paper Example

A research by National Asian Pacific Legal Consortium shows that Asian-Americans are underrepresented in the media. Additionally, in the American film industry, Asian-Americans are granted roles that often comprise stereotypical characters that only perpetuate an already indifferent cultural belief (Kawai, 2005). Male Asian-Americans are frequently compelled to converse with heavy Asian accents, which increases stereotypes. They commonly brought out as cooks, waiters, laundry workers, nerds, villain, and Kung-Fu masters. On the other side, female Asian-Americans are exploited sexually since they are brought out as stereotypically, subservient, exotic, and sexual beings.

This topic is important since it dwells on some of the arising issues in the society today. The topic under scrutiny is racial discrimination in the media among the minority communities in the United States. In the film industry, Asian-Americans are granted stereotypical roles, which expose the community to exploitation. Although in primetime television and advertising they are brought out as statutory figures, the “Model Minority” continues to create consistent misperceptions of culture and values. The topic is important because it raises issue about gender disparities. Asian-American women are brought out as creatures that carry burdens of gender and racial stereotyping. Not only do these women tolerate the general perception of their nature, but also beliefs in the society that are attributed to women (Kawai, 2005).

With reference to the degree of both racial and gender stereotype, women organizations call for special attention and care. For instance, NAPAWF, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, is an organization that addresses the plight of Asian-American women. It addresses some important societal issues such as safety, reproductive rights, economic justice, and equal education access (Kawai, 2005). This organization calls for societal intervention since it aims at ending stereotypes against women.

Reference

Kawai, Y. (2005). Stereotyping Asian Americans: The Dialectic of the Model Minority and the Yellow Peril. TheHoward Journal of Communication, 16, 109-130.