Angry Asian Girl

I feel like the older I get, the more I morph into the Asian crusader... fighting crimes against those with yellow skin tones and slanted eyes. Seriously though - I really feel like I've become more "aware" of prejudices and unfair representations of the Asian culture in the media.

I wasn't always like this. I distinctly remember starting elementary school for the first time and being teased mercilessly about being Asian (even though I was only half). The kids would see my mom drop me off at school and poke fun at her accent and my god, I can't begin to tell you how much I hate the "Me Chinese... Me play joke... Me put pee pee in your Coke." I spent my formative years denying my culture. I hated being half Korean. I hated that my mom had an accent. I hated being different.

I think my mom sensed this. We moved to Maryland after living in Korea for a few years (my dad was in the Army). Apparently when we were living in Korea, I was fluent in the language. When we came here, there were no other Korean kids around the neighborhood. My mom wanted me to fit in. She only spoke to me in English. She bought all of the latest American kid lunches (lunchables namely... do you remember those awful things?) and the toys she saw the other white kids playing with. I lost complete touch with being Korean.

I totally regret my decision. While my mom is a complete nut, she is an amazing, unselfish person full of grace. How could I deny that part of me? So perhaps over the last few years as I realize what a brat I've been, I'm making up for it by being the Angry Asian Girl. I get *really* angry when people poke fun at the accents. I get even angrier when douchebags like Rosie O'Donnell make blatantly racist jokes against Asian culture but won't apologize for it because she was just "joking" (although Kelly Ripa is a homophobe, right? Because she doesn't like people putting their dirty hands on her mouth. Sheesh).

With that said, I heart Margaret Cho. Yes, she pokes fun at her mother's accent and strange social mannerisms... but its what she grew up with. It was her life. I totally relate to most of her jokes (but not the one about her shitting her pants while stuck in L.A. traffic). She gives a voice to Asians. I mean, its very difficult to find Asians in the media that aren't portrayed as convenience store owners.

Awhile back, Margaret commented about Gwen Stefani's Harajuku girls and it totally struck a chord with me. You can read her whole post about Gwen here but here are some of the highlights for me:

"Now she has 4 things all together, the Harajuku Girls. I want to like them, and I want to think they are great, but I am not sure if I can. I mean, racial stereotypes are really cute sometimes, and I don't want to bum everyone out by pointing out the minstrel show. I think it is totally acceptable to enjoy the Harajuku girls, because there are not that many other Asian people out there in the media really, so we have to take whatever we can get...Even though to me, a Japanese schoolgirl uniform is kind of like blackface..."

Right on! I sometimes dig Gwen Stefani. I mean - her hair always looks pretty good, she's in amazing shape, some of her songs are pretty catchy (although I loathe Holla Back Girl) and for the most part... I like her style. I have to agree, though, that I don't dig the Harajuku girls. I find it bizarre that she treats them like giant dolls. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if they were just a part of her entourage but they don't talk! It truly seems like she doesn't allow them to speak. Its weird. And it just perpetuates the stereotype that asian women are are there to serve and obey (with no back talk).

What was even better was that Ms. Gwen had the audacity to fire back at Margaret for her comments in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. You can read the whole interview here. Ms. Gwen said:

"'She didn't do her research!'' spits Stefani, who says she's been a fan of Japan and its mix-and-match fashion sense since first visiting the country with No Doubt in the mid-'90s. ''The truth is that I basically was saying how great that culture is. It pisses me off that [Cho] would not do the research and then talk out like that. It's just so embarrassing for her. The Harajuku Girls is an art project. It's fun!'...'I was surprised how racist everybody was about them...'"

What?! Did Gwen really say that?! Margaret's response? "I absolutely agree! I didn't do any research! I realize the Harajuku Girls rule!!! How embarrassing for me!!! I was just jealous that I didn't get to be one. I dance really good!!!" I love Margaret Cho!

Margaret linked to a fantastic blog post about a fan who calls Gwen out on her hypocrisy in Bust magazine:

..."Let's face it; Margaret Cho isn't the only one seeing red over Stefani's use of Japanese girls as cute and stylish human props. I love Tokyo street culture as much as the next gal, but that doesn't give a privileged White American pop-star from Orange County California the right to exploit it and then to tell an Asian woman that she needs to do some "research" before she can recognize blatant exoticism and objectification.

As a fan of No Doubt’s music I've tolerated Gwen's bindis, and then the
chola make-up. I was even supportive when they suddenly went dancehall,
but Stefani should stop believing her own hype, and start listening to her fans
when they tell her she's gone too far. Her little fantasy “art project”
has officially stepped out of bounds.

Frankly it doesn’t surprise me that Gwen just doesn’t quite get it, but
for her to suggest that people of color need to do "research" to prove they’re
being oppressed is down right despicable.

Someone needs to tell Stefani to do some "research" on the definition
of the term: “Cultural Appropriation”, then Holla back with an apology,
because with many of her fans of color, she’s about one geisha away from wearing out her welcome."

Okay, I'm stepping off of my soapbox now. Hooray for Friday!

*Sorry - no pics today. I've got work to do!*