The Desexualization of Asian Men

Western media seems to have made it its job to ridicule Asian men while at the same time oversexualizing Asian women

By: Alessandra Benitez

Asian men and women have been victims of completely opposite stereotypes by Western culture. Asian women have been overly sexualized and fetishized by Americans, a stereotype heightened during the Vietnam War when many Vietnamese women were forced to become prostitutes to support themselves. But Asian men have been victims of the other extreme: they were desexualized. Because of the patriarchal society that we live in, when Asian men started emigrating to the United States and threatening American men by “stealing” their jobs and women, they were mocked. What better way to prevent this from happening than by ridiculing them? 

Hollywood has been complicit in the desexualization of Asian men through countless movies perpetuating harmful stereotypes. In these movies, it wasn't unusual for Asian characters to be dumb, feminine, or constantly getting hurt. Examples can be found in popular movies like Long Duk Dong in “Sixteen Candles” and Mr.Yunioshi in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Immigrant men did not fit the perfectly manicured male stereotype created by the West, that of a tall, blond man who was rough, strict, and often cold. These stereotypes of femininity are nothing more than a blend of racism and sexism. 

When Asian people immigrated to the United States looking for job opportunities, most resisted assimilation. They continued their cultural practices and traditions, one of which was Chinese men having long hair. Because this was seen as something that only women did, Chinese men were ridiculed by their American counterparts. Not only were they foreign, but they had an attribute that resembled that of a woman, who have historically been valued less than men. That created a lasting stereotype. Today, the feminization of Asian men is still very prevalent. It is not unusual to hear people compare prominent Asian celebrities to women; the members of BTS are often victims of these comments. Progress has been made, and representation has increased. In Hollywood, it is more common for Asian men to be depicted as desirable or to have lead roles in romantic films. An example is Henry Golding, who was cast as the love interest in “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Last Christmas.” Still, there is a long way to go to fight these stereotypes, and as always, a good way to start is by educating ourselves.