What is Asian Fetishization?
Asian Fetishization is when someone sexualizes or romanticizes anybody of Asian descent. It is also coined as “Yellow Fever”. I am bringing this topic up, because before entering college I also did not know it was an important issue, but when my Freshman year started, I began to feel more and more of the heat of Asian Fetishization, and the more I talked about it with other Asians, I realized how common it is and how many people do not take it seriously. Asians have always had the stereotype of being submissive and quiet, this along with people who are only attracted to Asian’s common physical traits are the typical signs of Asian Fetishization, which is more racist than people who have not had to deal with Asian Fetishization make it appear.
Me and my other friends who are Asian have all talked about our experience with common questions strangers ask us. Many of them think it is smart to use our ethnicities as a way of showing interest, but it only makes us uncomfortable and more singled out. Before, I was too scared to show my discomfort, I was afraid of being called sensitive or dramatic, but microaggressions are increasing day by day. It has gotten to a point where it is not enough to just not be racist anymore, more people need to be educated about their privilege and about what they say and how it can make someone uncomfortable.
With the emergence of Kpop, and cultures being spread through social media, Asian culture is getting more recognition day by day. This is good news as I am proud to also be part of the spread of information about the brilliance of Asian culture. Though with more people knowing about Asian culture, Asian Fetishization is also at an all time high. With helping to spread awareness of my culture, I also want to take part in letting a few know about the difference between appreciating other cultures and fetishization. Educating yourself on other cultures is NOT fetishization, thinking that only a certain race is attractive because of their stereotypes is fetishization. I understand that it is hard to not think about stereotypes. Entertaining certain stereotypes of the Asian race is something that I am sometimes guilty of as well. But it is important for everyone to start slowly traveling away from the Asian stereotype of being obedient, quiet, and submissive. If this stereotype is less common, the Asian race can be more comfortable with expressing themselves and Asian fetishization would not be as normalized.