31 March 2013

Do Asian People See Less?


My good friend, +Brian Workman, over at thegesslar inspired me with this post.

Diversity is a great thing! When you have a diverse group of people who do and love the same things and share a common bond, it is beautiful. Why shouldn't everyone have the same experience with diversity as we fortunate ones who have shed our fears of different cultures and belief systems? Because, they are being educated by those who are ignorant and fearful. I'm not saying it's so bad, but we can fix it.

My friend Brian answered some stereotypical questions which popped up on his Google type ahead for the partial keyword list: do gay people. The suggested choices from Google were interesting, so I decided to do my own question and answer session, representing my folk, Asian people. I'm only a subset, being Japanese. However, I wanted a more general and broad stereotype to deal with. So, here you have my search results and I will answer all of these questions below.





1. Do Asian people see less?

No, we see more. Because of the slant in our eyes, we see everyone as being fat and skewed horizontally.

2. Do Asian people eat dog?

Not in America! Jesus, I hope not. In America, dogs are our domestic pets. We love our dogs! However, in other countries, all different cultures of people eat dog meat, including people in Asian countries. If you were to visit a Korean restaurant, you may find dog meat as an entree, but the meat used in the restaurants are of a particular breed of dog raised for consumption by humans, no different from chickens raised for KFC. You would have to research each country to determine their culture and belief over the consumption of dog meat.

3. Do Asian people eat cat?

See number 2 above.

4. Do Asian people celebrate Christmas? 

It depends on an individual's religious beliefs whether they celebrate Christmas, not their ethnicity. Many Asians practice other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, etc. However, people in other religions do celebrate Christmas. With widespread commercialism and the prospect of receiving gifts, it is hard NOT to celebrate Christmas.

5. Do Asian people get drunk faster?

An estimated one out of three people in East Asian countries have an alcohol flush reaction, colloquially known as "Asian Glow", a condition where the body metabolizes alcohol nearly 100-times more efficiently into acetaldehyde, a toxic metabolite. Flushing, or blushing, is associated with the erythema (reddening caused by dilation of capillaries) of the face, neck, and shoulder, after consumption of alcohol. In other words, they don't get drunk faster, but they are more likely to have this reaction.

The rate with which a person gets drunk is based on tolerance, not ethnicity. However, differences in tolerance levels are also influenced by socio-economic and cultural difference including diet, average body weight, and patterns of consumption.

6. Do Asian people age well?

God, I hope so! I'm coming up on another 10-year stretch, so thank goodness my eyes have gone first. I try to eat well, exercise, and use plenty of moisturizer. But, hey, we can't stay young forever. Most of the differences you might find in Asian culture, with respect to aging, are skin care and diet. Stay out of the sun and eat plenty of pickled veggies and fish!

7. Do Asian people eat cheese?

If they like it, sure! What kind of cheese? I like Cheddar cheese on my tacos, but I like Swiss with ham. In addition, Mozzarella, not Pepper Jack, belongs in lasagna. Pssh, do Asians like cheese? We like to hear the word when we pull out our cameras. "Say cheese!"

8. Do Asian people have curly hair?

For the most part, Asian people have straight, dark hair. It's part of genetics. However, when mixed with other gene pools, the offspring could likely have curly hair. Nobody is ever happy with how they were originally created. When I was a teenager, I got up every morning and curled my hair for school. Other girls with curly hair would get up every morning and straighten theirs. Who cares about my hair anyway? Is it going to raise my Asian IQ any higher than it already is?

9. Do Asian people tan?

Is this question asking if Asian people participate in the ritual of lying upon a blanket on the beach and exposing themselves to the harmful rays of the sun? Or is it asking if Asian people have skin which will turn a darker shade when exposed to the sun? The answer to the first is, that is an individual decision, not tied to a person's ethnicity. The answer to the second depends. If said Asian had a skin pigmentation disorder, I don't know. I will turn darker when exposed to the sun. I haven't been told that I have any skin pigmentation disorders, so my guess is that I tan and it is normal.

10. Do Asian people have body hair?

We're not born as hairy as the average Neanderthal, but we are born with a certain amount of body hair. Again, this is genetics. When mixed with other gene pools, the likelihood of an Asian offspring having more body hair increases.

I am happy to have dispelled any stereotypes which may (or may not) be out there about Asian people. I don't represent all Asian people, and this post is more based on my own opinion and experience with Asians and their culture, having had more exposure than the average NON Asian. So, if there's anything inaccurate about what I wrote, I don't really care. I'll just have to refer you to Google!

Have you ever had to dispel a stereotype? Was your attempt to educate received well, or has it been your experience people wish to remain ignorant and completely disregard what you say?


24 comments:

  1. Do Asian people see less?

    Wow. Just . . . wow.

    You know what I'm seeing right now? RED.

    (Great response to that one, by the way.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was a bit surprised at than one myself. The others I heard before.

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  2. Dispel stereotypes? Constantly. I'm half Asian (Japanese) and half white (Irish). I am not good at math nor am I a rabid drinker. I'm afraid to see what a "do biracial people" Google search would come up with.

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    1. Half Japanese and half white here, too! My daughter was upset when she came home from school one day. Some kid said in the classroom that Japanese people eat their pets, and the whole class looked at her and go, "Really?"

      What pissed me off is the teacher didn't do anything. It's mind boggling. When you have a chance to educate, do it! :)

      Delete
  3. Some things that people say are so ridiculous. Good post

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    1. Thanks!

      Yes, ridiculous and so much so that if you don't correct them early, it just fuels it more, then the ridiculous turns into viable possibilities, then it is fact.

      Sad, I know.

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  4. I was watching a British show once where one of the audience members who was interviewed was a toothpick of a girl from the States. The host said, "I can't believe you're American. You're nowhere near fat enough!" I hear that one A LOT from our friends 'across the pond.' They also think everyone they meet is from Texas, that the Texan accent is the norm throughout the country, and that we're all either hillbillies or cowboys. Maybe I'm just going to the wrong place in London, lol.

    Awesome post! I love mending the gaps between our many races and cultures. I believe we should consider each other as equal in every way. Not one person should be descriminated for the color of their skin. Ever.

    OH! And I *hate* people who use the word "Tolerance." We shouldn't be tolerating each other, we should be ACCEPTING each other for who we are. I'd much rather see bumper sticks that say "Acceptance." Maybe I'll make some on Cafe Press...

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Awesome idea, randi. I'd never thought about making bumper stickers before. :)

      I'm with you. The word "tolerance" is just a really snooty word. I hate it myself. I tolerate mosquitoes in the summer so that I can enjoy the outdoors. That's definitely not the way to treat a fellow human being.

      Delete
  5. Amazing post! You are awesome for conducting that search. Don't know if I even want to see the type of stuff that comes up for "do black people."

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    1. If you write a post on that one, please link my Asian one. We'll revolutionize the world via the internet! :D

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  6. Wow. I can't believe they have these "Do _______ people" questions. Though I guess I really shouldn't be surprised.

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    1. I performed searches on race, age, religion, etc. Some of these don't surprise me, but every now and then I read one that just baffled me.

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  7. Wow, this is informative but highly controversial and rather generalized only because there are so many different Asian races who might age differently etc. Hawaiians and Mongolians are very different for example. Interesting though and I guess who better to broach these questions then you my lovely friend?

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    1. I have a Hawaiian friend who is 58, almost 59, and she looks like she's in her mid 30s. Makes me want to be Hawaiian. :D



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  8. When I saw your post heading I was like: Aw man...
    and then I read it and now I'm like: that was awesome.

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    1. Awesome!

      Yes, when I saw the title pop up on Google as a suggestion, I was shocked, but then again, that's why I chose it as the title. lol

      Delete
  9. Haha. I'm a blond girl and I have used that 'sweet and dumb' stereotype ridiculously. A lot of people saw me as small (I'm 5'5", so not that bad) and worthy of protection, or not bright enough to really understand ... whatever, and I have been known to play along or completely shock them, depending on the situation. This world is too big and too small for stereotypes any more. We need to learn to get to know people. :P

    ReplyDelete
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    1. The unexpected is always funny. I like this one...

      "How come all Asian people speak with broken English?"

      THEY DON'T! Only the ones on television. You need to get out more, get a life or something. :D

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  10. One of my professors was talking about subtle, sort of "under the radar" discrimination. He said that while leaving a business meeting, some white guy said to the one man of Asian descent in the room, "Your English is very good." Aisiatic dude was as American as the rest of 'em...

    And, you and your friend Brian have inspired me. Have a series of posts to do in answer to a reader's question, but then I will do a Google search "Do waitresses..." I'm afraid of what I may find. ;)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I just did your Google search and can I say, "OMG!" Do waitresses spit in food? Made me think of the movie "Waiting..."

      One other thing I can't stand is when someone says about a black person, "He speaks well. He's trying to be white."

      I'm like WHAT? How does one TRY to be white just because they are well spoken and articulate? Do you know how many white people are illiterate and speak like they just walked off the set of Swamp People?

      Delete
  11. This is an AWESOME post! Oh. My. Gosh. Seriously ... now I am tempted to do the same thing. ha. Crazy.

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    1. We should make a string of these and link them all together, such like a portal for the dispelling of all stereotypes. :D

      I'd like to read your resulting questions and answers!

      Delete
  12. I was wondering about this post... and then reading it, all I can say is Bravo, Diane!

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    1. Thanks, gotta love ignorant people. Not. lol

      Delete

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