redefining asian american masculinity in shawn

Asian American, Novel

Actually in a globalized community that consists of a mixing of many several cultures and races, stereotypes still flourish in the modern day. Two consistent and different stereotypes of Asian American men are present: the first is that they are sexually poor and poor, physically in addition to their associations, as well as staying bound by their filial responsibilities, while the second paints all of them as hypermasculine savages. Publisher Shawn Wong strives to disprove these stereotypes and redefine the masculinity of the Asian American man in his novel, American Knees, throughout the actions, interactions, and personality of their protagonist, Raymond Ding.

The book begins by questioning Hard anodized cookware American men stereotypes while Raymond is in the process of divorcing his better half, Darleen. Darleen and her family represented the traditional and accepted way of life for a Chinese language American: strong filial you possess and oneness, a restaurant business the whole family was most involved in, and in addition an predicted pattern of occurrences, explained on page 6th with the initial phases of Raymond and Darleen’s relationship, “He and Darleen would¦ fall in love, marry, and have children- preferably male children- who does be given fabulous red-egg functions on their one-month birthdays. Raymond moved to Western world Covina¦ to participate in the family and be Chinese” (Wong 6). This quote encapsulates the standard operation of Asian people, once two Asian lovers who happy the right standards got together, they would go on to marry and produce children, and therefore gain the approval and endorsement of their families. The end on this quote likewise demonstrates anything interesting about Raymond’s end, even though he could be of Oriental descent, this individual states that by getting started with the relatives he will “be Chinese, ” implying that being Chinese is more than having this in their blood, 1 must also abide by the social expectations and customs too.

Because Raymond is first introduced, this individual seems to stay within the limitations of Asian American guy stereotypes, he marries a Chinese girl and becomes part of her family, this individual “was a good Chinese son who hardly ever cut school, always got the proper notification from home, stored his health club clothes clean, returned his library ebooks on time, ¦ didn’t lose his draft card, [and] wrote thanks a lot letters the next day Christmas and the day following his birthday” (Wong 10). However , after further research it can be driven that Raymond’s early bit of to the generalized “good boy” Chinese stereotype is a result of his mistreatment throughout the Vietnam Battle, when he was called a “gook” (K. Cheung 266-267). Relating to King-Kok Chueng, “the model community is merely the flip side of a gook: the solution to being treated as adversary alien is usually to be a member of any docile and invisible community. Both the laudatory and the negative epithets unman the Oriental American male” (K. Cheung 267). In this situation, Raymond is facing choosing the reduced of two evils, to either become a hated and unwanted deviant or a quiet and unimportant conformist, becoming marginalized either way.

Shawn Wong expands upon this kind of notion later on in the new, during a discussion between Raymond and fellow Asian rights advocate, Jimmy Chan, on the novel, China Girls in Bondage, that were there read in which a white lady named Meghan gets attracted into an underground Chinese language opium living room, and is rescued by a great Irish police officer, only to reveal she will not want to leave (Wong 140). The storyplot has most likely some basis in the 1873 New York Moments investigation of a Chinatown opium den, which led to the discovery of a nicely dressed young young lady being held there (F. Cheung 299). Who owns the family room reportedly replied with a awful leer, Oh yea, hard time in New York. Small girl hungry. Plenty visit this page. Chinaman will have something to have, and this individual like youthful white girl, He! This individual! ‘ (F. Cheung 299). This portrayal of Chinese language Americans inside the media without doubt played a hand in influencing American anticipations and stereotypes of Oriental American guys.

Chinese Girls in Bondage, written by a white colored man, offered as an example of what was unacceptable of Cookware Americans, on the other hand Jimmy Chan prefers this kind of depiction, requesting Raymond, “Isn’t it far better to be evil and Chinky than sexless and obsequious? ” (Wong 140). Jimmy’s assertions make it clear that the emasculating of Asian American males by the average person is far more attacking than describing them, as the publication does, as men who “sold all their women in slavery and prostitution, sure their feet, laughed inside their faces with yellow, opium-stained teeth, [and] probed all their bodies using firm, dirty fingernails. The Chinamen never bathed and had big liquid yellow-colored eyes bulging out of pockmarked fried faces¦ The oily Chinks ate rats and cats” (Wong 139). Jimmy Chan is saying that even though the new describes Asian Americans from this disgusting and hideous manner, at least they have sexuality and male organ, something that offers them identification and equal footing with white men. They are individuals and they do something about their own impulses and needs. However , devoid of it, they can be ignored, overpowered, oppressed, and simply at the mercy of those around them. This could be a possible motivator pertaining to the actions of Raymond, who has expanded tired of being a part of the “model minority” and chooses to be able to away from it, through his numerous sexual encounters and straying from cultural rules, in order to define himself as an individual.

This notion ties together with the concept of a “hegemonic discount, ” the industry strategy a man uses when he trades on the advantages conferred by his race, gender, sexuality, class, accent, and generational position to achieve “unblushing” manhood (Chen 600). Over the novel, Raymond continually destroys away from or perhaps defies classic Asian American male stereotypes to elevate himself and leave parts of his culture behind. In essence, he is reclaiming the manhood which was taken from him by isolating himself from your common morals about his background.

This dichotomy between the “good, ” quiet Asian American man as well as the repulsive Oriental American philistine is not a new or fictional concept, rather, Shawn Wong can be drawing on a rich record rooted inside the factual lifestyle of these two polar views on Asian American masculinity. These competing stereotypes became popular in the nineteenth century with American media, cartoonists, novelists, and playwrights who displayed Chinese American men as both “docile pets and nefarious invaders, potential people and unassimilable aliens, effeminate, queue-wearing eunuchs and threateningly masculine, minotaur-like lotharios” (F. Cheung 293). The reference to these men because pets is specially offensive. The term “pet” brings to mind loyalty, obedience and controllability, furthermore, it is a step below “human” and even “slave, ” because of it designates something that is less than individual, and which usually would for that reason be appropriate to be cured like below one (F. Cheung 293).

It really is strange that alongside the brutish Cookware American belief is the chicken Asian American stereotype. A single factor that may be attributed to the development of these stereotypes could be the traditional relationship between East and West. In Jinqi Ling’s Identity Catastrophe and Sexuality Politics: Reappropriating Asian American Masculinity appears the offer:

The Western world thinks of itself while masculine ” big firearms, big market, big money ” so the East is girly ” fragile, delicate, poor ¦ although good at skill, and full of inscrutable knowledge ” the feminine croyant. Her mouth says zero, but her eyes say yes. The West is convinced the East, deep down, wants to become dominated ” because a woman can’t believe for himself (Ling 315)

This kind of excerpt signifies that the stereotypes involving the de-masculization of Hard anodized cookware Americans comes from the initial length of oppression and racism which the East in general endured by the West. While these stereotypes are not quite as frustrating today because they were in the past, Raymond need to still overcome the remains of these perceptions that are ingrained in American society, showing himself being masculine in addition to control in his own person way.

The beginning of the mainstream proceed to promote these types of stereotypes started with the transferring of legislation that limited the migration of Cookware women, besides the 1917 Immigration Act, which in turn prevented Hard anodized cookware men with wives from bringing those to the United States (Shek 380). Next, politicians realized that Asian American men could respond simply by trying to take white wives due to the a shortage of Asian ones, and they had taken action to prevent this simply by introducing anti-miscegenation laws that revoked the citizenship of any white colored woman whom married an Asian American man (Shek 380). In further efforts to protect all their women, white colored men and white press depicted Asians as sexually deviant, asexual, or chicken in order to decrease their potential appeal to white women (Shek 380). This is ironic, because, since Jinqi Ling writes, “Asian men are usually viewed collectively in the West as lacking intimate rigor, [but] they are certainly not infrequently seen¦ as obtaining the potential to threaten white people sexually” (Ling 314). This shows the absurdity of the effeminate stereotype, white guys claim that Hard anodized cookware American mankind has no libido, but still fear that they will consider their females, effectively contradicting their own debate.

Oriental Americans are most often caught in a trap, whatever they do, they can be looked straight down upon by society. This can be summed up perfectly by statement, “When Asian American men are economically and politically subordinate, they are viewed as feminine and incapable of living up to Western definitions of masculinity, when they struggle against odds to secure limited social space for themselves¦ they are immediately regarded as “bastardized” males in whose criminal sexual desire has to be controlled” (Ling 317). It becomes clear after learning historical information that these stereotypes surrounding Oriental American males emerge immediately out of racist philosophy, and the two competing editions of the masculinity stereotype in order to confuse Oriental American males to the point where their very own development of their particular masculinities is part an answer to the images of Asian Americans depicted in the media.

Raymond’s character in American Knees seems to be, in some ways, a bridging-between of these two opposing stereotypes, while still rejecting all their validity. When he adjusts to some from the “model minority” Asian American stereotypes, he also lovers this truth with his “barbaric” Asian American behaviors: chasing after women and defying his classic cultural ideals. This shows Asian American masculinity so that it really is, a thing that is not really on the back of the dual extreme stereotypes, but in different distances between. In fact , this can be something that all men, regardless of ethnicity, share, they are all individualistic and one of a kind, falling approximately chauvinistic brute and effeminate pansy.

With Raymond’s conformity to “good boy” Asian American stereotypes, and the overwhelming perception that Oriental American guys lack sexuality, it is surprising that Raymond negates this stereotype if it is the most desired and sexually adept character in the book. When Raymond’s sexual life with Darleen is never handled on, it might be clear that he contains sexual electricity over others when he seduces and beds a wines rep initially of the novel. By initiating this lovemaking encounter, besides this challenge the notion of weak Hard anodized cookware American masculinity and sexuality, but it also disproves the idea of stringent filial loyalty, as Raymond was married to Darleen at the time. This shows that the Asian American man can have sex hunger and be willing to try out multiple companions, an idea widely unrecognized in American contemporary society.

Raymond continues to demonstrate sexual power and appeal in his relationship with Aurora Crane, an attractive Japanese-Irish girl who is 14 years youthful than him. In his activities and appearance while handsome, amusing, articulate, and sexy, Raymond disproves the typical conception of the Asian American man as being a “wimpy nerd” (K. Cheung 267). Indeed, even Raymond’s appearance during his first encounter with Aurora exuded his attitude toward the breaking faraway from stereotypes. Coming from Aurora’s point of view, she “searched for the most commonly Chinese feature about him, although couldn’t get the usual attractions: cheap new hair-do with oily bangs dropping across the eye brows, squarish gold-rimmed glasses, askew because there is bridge to keep them up, baggy-butt polyester-made pants” (Wong 36). Aurora’s expectations about Raymond’s physical appearance tie in flawlessly with the generalized American watch of the Asian-American man: unsexy, unappealing, and out of touch with current products, also showing the power of society and these types of stereotypes to influence how people understand other people.

Another aspect of Raymond’s sexual appeal is his creative method to lovemaking, that involves storytelling, endurance, and pain. While the effeminate stereotypes may cause the assumption of the Hard anodized cookware American male as delicate and sensitive, it would in no way indicate the existence of someone while sexually proficient and woman-pleasing as Raymond. Aurora reflects on how Raymond compares to previous lovers when “She contemplated how a few men kissed like they had learned to kiss by watching James Bond movies and fishing shows on television, approaching at her with their jaws open¦ Raymond preferred for taking turns kissing¦ His hands applied simply no pressure onto her bare skin” (Wong 82). This estimate is interesting because it rejects the notion of stereotype by reversing ethnicity roles, and in addition proves the subjectivity in the concept of masculinity. While People in america generally discover Asian American men since either hypermasculine or effeminate with no masculinity, in this condition, the white colored men that Aurora features dealt with are barbaric and repulsive, while Raymond’s tenderness is attractive and sexual, which in turn actually improves his masculinity.

However , also in this tenderness that occupies one end of the masculinity spectrum, there lie elements from the various other side as well. While like a patient and meticulous storyteller, Raymond as well becomes condescending in his talks, or perhaps lectures, with Aurora describing her ethnic background and its effects, which turns into a burden onto her. This is known in the text message when Inicio comments that “She resented his helpful tone” (Wong 58). This instructiveness decreases their romantic relationship, evidenced by simply Aurora saying to him, “Not everyone can certainly be a professional endorsement action official like you. I’m your lover, not a case history” (Wong 57). This conflict between the two lovers sooner or later leads to the collapse of their initial romance, revealing that Asian American masculinity is definitely not simplistic and simple like the stereotypes suggest, it is complex and hard to understand and cope with.

One other element of the effeminate Oriental American man stereotype can be his inability to handle sports activities. In mainstream American world, sports are held in excessive regard in terms of masculinity, for it is the modern-day equivalent of proving one self as a warrior. Therefore , it really is surprising that Raymond fractures away from the chicken stereotype all over again, although in regards to sports it is just mentioned in short , on page 157, when, in response to Betty, Raymond’s date, about a feasible event occurring the next week, Raymond responses, “I play basketball upon Tuesday nights” (Wong 157). Basketball, generally regarded as a strongly manly activity, is something that would Asian People in america would not be expected to participate in, indicated by lack of Cookware basketball players at the collegiate and specialist levels. Rather, Asian Us citizens are seen while “nerds” whom spend all their time focusing on academics and work, therefore making them less desirable. This is certainly found in the text early on, while Darleen’s roomie “convinced Darleen that the Cookware guys inside the public supervision program were less nerdy than the kinds in the business school” (Wong 13). This implies that Asian American men, just like Raymond, who have distance themselves from the adverse stereotypes with their demographic are definitely more successful with women, thus enhancing their masculinity.

Asian American men have the misfortune of being restricted by two opposing and offensive stereotypes: that of the effeminate and subservient wimp, and that from the abhorrent and pugnacious ruffian. Raymond, by Shawn Wong’s American Knees, sets out to break these misguided beliefs, and while at times showing characteristics from both side in the spectrum, through the entire course of the novel Raymond shows himself to be a strong and individual, proving that Asian American men are just as multi-faceted as anyone otherwise, and owning masculinity within their own proper.

Works Cited

Chen, Anthony S i9000. Lives in the middle of the Periphery, Lives in the Periphery with the Center: Chinese American Masculinities and Negotiating with Hegemony. Gender and Society. 13. 5 (1999): 584-607. Printing.

Cheung, Floyd. Restless and Ambig Representations: Nineteenth-Century Images of Chinese American Men. Record of American Lifestyle 30. 3 (2007): 293-309. Web. 27 Apr 2010.

Cheung, King-Kok. Artwork, Spirituality, and the Ethic of Care: Substitute Masculinities in Chinese American Literature. Masculinity Studies Feminist Theory 2002: 265-271. Print out.

Ling, Jinqi. Id Crisis and Gender Governmental policies: Reappropriating Cookware American Masculinity. An Interethnic Companion to Asian American Literature 97: 312-336. Web. 27 Apr 2010.

Shek, Yen Ling. Oriental American Masculinity: A Review of the Literature. Record of Men’s Studies 13. 3 (2006): 379-392. Net. 26 Monthly interest 2010.

Wong, Shawn. American Legs. United States of America: School of Washington Press, 2005. Print.