28th Annual Student Research Conference
Asian American Women On The Screen and the Burden of Representation
Jazmine N. Newsome
Dr. Huping Ling, Faculty Mentor
This paper will explore the portrayal and stereotypes of Asian American women on television from their first time being on screen until now. I will discuss five of the major stereotypes Asian women have due to the identity the media constructs for them: dragon ladies, Kung Fu Fighters, Geeks, Foreigners, and Prostitutes. The controversial issue of interracial marriage and how its portrayed with Asian American women will also be discussed. Fictional character, Cristina Yang on hit show Grey's Anatomy, will be a focus for these stereotypes and issues and how they are portrayed on television for Asian American women now. What does being an Asian women now mean compared to what it meant then? Does the lack of representation on the screen help or hurt the identity society constructs for them? How does it impact them? This paper will help to further explore and answer these questions.
Keywords: Asian, women, media, stereotypes, Yang, interracial, relationships, representation
Topic(s):Asian Studies
Asian-American Studies
Women's and Gender Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 117-2
Location: MG 1098
Time: 9:00