After spending my whole childhood in the United States, I have experience various Asian stereotypes from different people. For some people who did not spend long time in the United States, stereotypes could be irrelevant experience. Since Emily spent eight years in the United States, attending to American middle school and high school, I knew how she experienced Asian stereotypes from various environment.
Me: Do you know what stereotype is? Define it if you do.
Emily: Stereotype is a fixed perspective after simply looking at the appearance of others, and designating a fixed image of them without knowing the person fully.
Me: What do you think a stereotypical Asian is?
Emily: Asian stereotypes are that they are good at math, they are bad at driving, have small eyes, not attractive, nerdy; that all Asians wear glasses, and that they smell like garlic.
Me: Have you ever been stereotyped in United States?
Emily: I think I was stereotyped as being good at math, even before I told them what my grade was in math. People did not looked at my performance in class but they just stereotyped me as an Asian who is good at math. A lot of times my friends would joke how I have small eyes, and look nerdy with glasses. Sometimes I get really offended by their assumption and stereotypical comments.
Me: Do you think you’re a stereotypical Asian?
Emily: I don’t think I am a stereotypical Asian. I’m bad at math, don’t wear glasses, and I don’t always smell like garlic (well not everyday). Even though we may look the same to others, everyone is individually different, and have different characteristic. So I don’t think there’s someone who is a “stereotypical Asian,” everyone is different.
Me: Why do you think people judge the Asian ethnic group?
Emily: I don’t think it’s only the Asian ethnic group that people judge. Everyone judges everyone else who looks or thinks differently from him or her. I think “judging” comes naturally. It’s not bad to judge, but I think it’s sad that stereotypes are made before you know a particular person, and you lose the chance to make a first impression without a fixed image of others.
Me: How do you feel about Asian stereotype?
Emily: As I said before, I don’t think judging other person is bad because it comes naturally. But it’s sad that you lose the chance to get a first impression without a fixed image.
Me: How should society deal with stereotypes?
Emily: I think society should deal with stereotypes as natural, when it doesn’t become physical. If stereotypes become physical, and if difference turns into inequality and discrimination, the society should make a stand.
Me: Do you know what stereotype is? Define it if you do.
Emily: Stereotype is a fixed perspective after simply looking at the appearance of others, and designating a fixed image of them without knowing the person fully.
Me: What do you think a stereotypical Asian is?
Emily: Asian stereotypes are that they are good at math, they are bad at driving, have small eyes, not attractive, nerdy; that all Asians wear glasses, and that they smell like garlic.
Me: Have you ever been stereotyped in United States?
Emily: I think I was stereotyped as being good at math, even before I told them what my grade was in math. People did not looked at my performance in class but they just stereotyped me as an Asian who is good at math. A lot of times my friends would joke how I have small eyes, and look nerdy with glasses. Sometimes I get really offended by their assumption and stereotypical comments.
Me: Do you think you’re a stereotypical Asian?
Emily: I don’t think I am a stereotypical Asian. I’m bad at math, don’t wear glasses, and I don’t always smell like garlic (well not everyday). Even though we may look the same to others, everyone is individually different, and have different characteristic. So I don’t think there’s someone who is a “stereotypical Asian,” everyone is different.
Me: Why do you think people judge the Asian ethnic group?
Emily: I don’t think it’s only the Asian ethnic group that people judge. Everyone judges everyone else who looks or thinks differently from him or her. I think “judging” comes naturally. It’s not bad to judge, but I think it’s sad that stereotypes are made before you know a particular person, and you lose the chance to make a first impression without a fixed image of others.
Me: How do you feel about Asian stereotype?
Emily: As I said before, I don’t think judging other person is bad because it comes naturally. But it’s sad that you lose the chance to get a first impression without a fixed image.
Me: How should society deal with stereotypes?
Emily: I think society should deal with stereotypes as natural, when it doesn’t become physical. If stereotypes become physical, and if difference turns into inequality and discrimination, the society should make a stand.