The "Token" Asian on TV

I've noticed that networks and producers try to have each general race represented in TV shows and movies. I hate to generalize groups but the groups tend to be White, Black, Asian, and Hispanic. It bothers me that the "token Asian” is always Chinese, Korean, or some ethnicity that has more slanted or almond shaped eyes. Although China takes up a lot of Asia geographically, not all of us look just like that. I hate that TV producers generalize us as having one sort of image. It’s the same as hating the fact that the “token Hispanic” is represented by a Mexican when there are all sorts of other ethnicities of Latin descent. There are all kinds of other ethnicities of Asian descent. Even Indians are Asian. That just tells you that Asians themselves are very diverse with very different appearances.

If you notice, the Asian character is never the main character. They’re always the right hand man/woman or just someone there on the side. The supporting actor/actress. And sometimes not even that.

And I hate that just because there is one Asian character, all of a sudden the movie or TV show is diverse enough. Take the movie “Bring it On” for example. There is one Asian character, and not only is she one of the bitches of the movie, she’s the only Asian person in the entire movie. Thanks, great representation of the Asian culture. And then there’s the movie “The Perfect Score” which is like the breakfast club except they aren’t in detention and they plan on stealing the SAT’s. The “token Asian” in that movie is a stoner. On a show called “Degrassi”, the Asian character is an aspiring actress who went from being a shy little quiet Asian girl in middle school to the school slut in high school. Thanks, yet again. And as for the movie “Mean Girls”, you get the stereotype of smart ass Asians, then the “cool” Asians, then there’s the two Asian girls who fight over which one of them is dating the middle-aged gym teacher. And as enjoyable or funny these productions may be, it’s not accurate.

While male Asians defend their masculinity in movies and shows, female Asians defend their reputation and try to avoid being the bitch or the slut. I don’t know who has it worse. I guess either way, the Asian culture as represented in American TV is inaccurate.

-Donna