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U.S. has long history of violence against Asian women

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By Karen Leong and Karen Kuo

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If this is the best some gender studies profs can come up with, that’s really sad. For one, the sexualisation of women in general is not a question. Neither is the history of racism against non-whites in the U.S.

The best evidence the writers come up with to support their premise comes from Japanese porn, a scene from Full Metal Jacket where a Vietnamese prostitute solicits American GIs, a survey that “doesn’t distinguish” and a kook on the White House... er sorry VPs lawn—-wait. how many kooks were chanting “hang Mike Pence” again?

I’m pretty sure there’s something to be said on the issue in question, but this is a middle school quality paper at best. Get some hard numbers in there or don’t write.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

"...stereotypes of Asian women as sexually submissive, either as ideal wives or sexually exotic prostitutes."

Those stereotypes are rooted in Asian cultures, created by Asian men, and are still going strong. Some non-Asian men are drawn to it. The bulk of the blame should go to the former, the originators, not the latter.

Why would anyone want to emigrate to a Western Country from the Far East. 

Because for all the West's problems, it's still a much better place in terms of equality, open-mindedness, opportunity and fairness for most Asian women and other people of color than their own societies.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

As a military veteran I can verify much of this as true. The West Coast commands I was stationed at all had Filipina and/or Japanese or Korean workers in the galleys and bars who also doubled as hookers. Not all of them did that but many of them did. And every base I was stationed at had its share of prostitutes of every race.

And the stereotype of the 'submissive Oriental wife' or the 'Jo-sans' and all that was all so prominent. Some Navy personel in the Philippines even moonlight in running brothels.

Kind of hard to believe, what base was this? Growing up around Asians my entire life the real discrimination I witnessed was more from Koreans that had their shops in the black communities and between the two the racial tensions were always high especially in the late 80’s Korean store owners treated blacks really bad within their own communities but it was during the Rodney King riots when the violence towards the Koreans turned deadly and were targeted, their stores looted and set on fire, it was absolutely chaos for 4 long grueling days.

I remember Ice Cube and his raps about that in 'Black Korea'. Before those riots were over, white people joined in just to have an excuse to trash things up and act stupid. In the Navy out in the West Coast commands you hear all the talk about the 'trophy Oriental girl'/'Jo-san' and the hooker parades at Subic Bay and these geeky sailors and Gyrenes gushing over their fantasies of 'geishas'. Ever hear the lyrics of 'China Girl' by David Bowie? Ever read 'Heart of Darkness'? Some servicemen have that stupid racist mentality. And it is very STUPID.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Those stereotypes are rooted in Asian cultures, created by Asian men, and are still going strong. Some non-Asian men are drawn to it. The bulk of the blame should go to the former, the originators, not the latter.

The old saying "it takes two to tango" applies. Prostitution in a war zone is hardly new or confined to US forces. Poverty and desperation accompany war, both of which lead people to do desperate things to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. UN peacekeepers have a reputation for abusing women everywhere they are sent but you don't read or hear as much about this. "Want your UN food ration? Give us your daughter". A large proportion of those UN blue helmeted soldiers are not coming from armies of developing nations with their own human rights shortcomings. Their soldiers bring their bad habits with them.

I recall once talking with a prostitute at a bar in Olongapo listening to a fellow play Steppenwolf songs perfectly. In the 1980s at least a white guy couldn't sit down at any Filippine bar before a local prostitute would plop down on your lap. If all you wanted was a beer and to listen to music it was actually annoying. The only way to avoid it was to bring a female shipmate along but our detachment was all guys so no luck there. Didn't buy her a ladies drink, tried to ignore her. But I asked this lady why she did it and why she didn't just leave and do something else? The answer was sobering and pretty much ruined my night. It still haunts me aactually. She was so far in debt to the mamma-san she couldn't leave and if she did the police would arrest her and drag her back to the bar she worked at. She was sold into prostitution by here mother in order to pay off her own debts to the mamma-san and free herself from a life as a bar girl. Yep, sold her own daughter into prostitution to pay off her own debts to the very same mamma-san (apologies to our Japanese readers but that is what those madams were called there). I'm done, it's your turn now. Turns out to be pretty common or at least was back then.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As a military veteran I can verify much of this as true. The West Coast commands I was stationed at all had Filipina and/or Japanese or Korean workers in the galleys and bars who also doubled as hookers. Not all of them did that but many of them did. And every base I was stationed at had its share of prostitutes of every race.

And the stereotype of the 'submissive Oriental wife' or the 'Jo-sans' and all that was all so prominent. Some Navy personel in the Philippines even moonlight in running brothels.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Racism, comes in many different forms against any ethnicity who cry foul when they are profiled or feel violated. Wars are part of why men look at women in certain ways its not just america, look at what is going on in Japan and Korea sex slaves etc...We as humans can only blame ourselves we human exploit one another for personal satisfaction and sensational gain. If you look at television, it shows the black men a danger to all which isn't true. If you look at a Hollywood movies, an asian is in the movie was either a karate guy or a chef. If an asian women was in the film she was this beautiful women being saved by this handsome white guy. All these stereotypes have shaped humans thoughts about one another. Racism has been around longer than prostitution, and it is not going away as long as we humans have separations of the mind based on wealth and skin color.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

 In the Navy out in the West Coast commands you hear all the talk about the 'trophy Oriental girl'/'Jo-san' and the hooker parades at Subic Bay and these geeky sailors and Gyrenes gushing over their fantasies of 'geishas'

I never heard any of that stuff until I was actually in uniform. Actually the terms you use I never heard and the terms I did hear are too vulgar to repeat here. Perth was probably the most desirable liberty port though. But that was something you heard on west coast squadrons. In the 6th Fleet the talk was pulling liberty in Israel. I certainly never heard any of this growing up in LA. I heard a lot of racist stuff in LA but mostly directed at Blacks, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Iranians, Jews and Armenians. I don't recall any real hate directed at Asians. That seems to be more recent. Funny thing but I have been all over the world and the only two times I have ever been called a "stupid American" to my face was right in Los Angeles and both times by Armenian immigrants.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If this is the best some gender studies profs can come up with, that’s really sad. For one, the sexualisation of women in general is not a question. Neither is the history of racism against non-whites in the U.S. 

The best evidence the writers come up with to support their premise comes from Japanese porn, a scene from Full Metal Jacket where a Vietnamese prostitute solicits American GIs, a survey that “doesn’t distinguish” and a kook on the White House... er sorry VPs lawn—-wait. how many kooks were chanting “hang Mike Pence” again?

I’m pretty sure there’s something to be said on the issue in question, but this is a middle school quality paper at best. Get some hard numbers in there or don’t write.

I couldn’t agree more.

As a military veteran I can verify much of this as true. The West Coast commands I was stationed at all had Filipina and/or Japanese or Korean workers in the galleys and bars who also doubled as hookers. Not all of them did that but many of them did. And every base I was stationed at had its share of prostitutes of every race.

And the stereotype of the 'submissive Oriental wife' or the 'Jo-sans' and all that was all so prominent. Some Navy personel in the Philippines even moonlight in running brothels.

Kind of hard to believe, what base was this? Growing up around Asians my entire life the real discrimination I witnessed was more from Koreans that had their shops in the black communities and between the two the racial tensions were always high especially in the late 80’s Korean store owners treated blacks really bad within their own communities but it was during the Rodney King riots when the violence towards the Koreans turned deadly and were targeted, their stores looted and set on fire, it was absolutely chaos for 4 long grueling days.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Feel sorry for these women who are victims as no one deserves such treatment. Further, the Far East/East Asia whether it is China, Korea, Taiwan or Japan is an excellent region in many different categories from A to Z. Why would anyone want to emigrate to a Western Country from the Far East. While no where is perfect, The Far East/East Asia is one of the best if not the best region(s) in the world to call home due to many reasons especially lower crime than the West.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

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