Sexuality and Gender in Asia as an Erotic of the Exotic - Essay Example

Sexuality And Gender In Asia As An Erotic Of The Exotic And A Clear Marker Of The Other Name Course Instructor Institution City/state Date Introduction History of gender and sexuality in the Asian continent was shaped by myths that are legendary known in the Asian history as Orient and exotic other1. The West thus perceived Asian gender and sexuality as being erotic and exotic that would later shape the way the continent perceives these two aspects. Therefore, this paper explores and discuses Asian gender and sexuality from the time of European exploration through to the colonial power by referring to contemporary issues like sex tourism, HIV/AIDS pandemics as well as prostitution. Stereotyping of Asian women as exotic and sexual objects deeply roots itself in the colonization of the Asian countries by the Western countries. Briefly, the western colonization did figure these women as materials of possession2. In this case, the identities of these Asian women never invoked individuality but rather viewed by these Westerners as simply Asians. Briefly, this report comprehensively discusses how western colonization changed the aspects of gender and sexuality of Asians with reference to some examples from Asian countries. Moreover, the report tries to compare how Asian gender and sexuality is being figured by the westerns. For example, all the Chinese women who migrated to Asian countries at the colonial periods were viewed as a unit3. In the United States for instance, all female Chinese were labeled China Mary. Thus, they were never accorded the necessary respect since the colonial era did eliminate Chinese Diversity and neglected their personhood. The stereotyping originated from the colonial regime when colonial soldiers used these women as their sex toys. However, these were just false beliefs of exoticism of the Chinese women that increased during the warring periods. From the above example, western colonization undermined the female gender since they were never seen normal citizens into the countries that they migrated to. Thus, a Chinese woman at the colonial era was a disadvantaged individual who was regarded with low self-esteem and was rather a sex object. In the colonial era, US was involved in Philippines wars as well as China and Japan in the Second World War where the American soldiers viewed Asian women as sexual objects thus branding them prostitutes4. Therefore, the women assumed different roles as providers of rest as well as recuperation from these war zones. The colonial solders saw Asian women as quiet different from their women at home. However, the colonial period still required them to fulfill certain female roles like domestic chores, providing care, recuperation and rest. Unlike the sweethearts in the mother lands, Asian women were still figured as sexual objects that were worth possessing. From the above example, colonial era changed the role of women in the Asian society since it figured these women as of different domestic responsibilities unlike the other normal women at home. An Asian woman therefore had no choice but to provide sexual pleasure to the American soldiers who regarded them with less self-esteem. On the other hand, the movies that were produced in the colonial era and post colonial ear also stereotyped the Asian women5. The movies thus portrayed the women as goddesses of evil who had slanted eyes with cunning ways. The other features that depicted Asian women as erotic objects included undulating hips, white skins that were darkened by make-ups and black kinking hair that made them so lucrative to any man. The movies and films were produced by the colonialists who ensured that these movie themes portrayed Asian women as erotic but were meant for the exotic people like the soldiers. Over time, the Western women have been portrayed in the films as suffering doormats who are silent and sometimes dragon ladies who are deceitful, cunning and sexual provocateurs. Since the movies have existed in the history over time, they had had considerate effect on the sexuality of the Asian females. These are the impacts of colonialism that are still being felt in the Asian culture. The West, however, still believe that Asian women as the most erotic creatures. However, it is a disadvantage to the Asian women since they only have two choices; either to be hopeless and naïve or to be devious and untrustworthy. These were borrowed from the colonial era. Colonization also led to the development of urban centers. Urbanization availed meeting points or areas where sex could be experimented6. With the colonization, sexuality and gender got so erotic thus resulting in high rate of prostitution. The increased rate of prostitution would later have an influence on the Asian people. They mostly provided sexual pleasures to the Western solders. This confirms that sex was an erotic experience provided by the exotic Asian women enjoyed by the ‘others’ who were the western elites. On the other hand, colonialism also changed the gender roles of men since cases of homosexuality were on the rise7. In the warring times, cases of rape were on the rise and men were not left behind. However, homosexuality was a new phenomenon that marked Western colonization. In this case, Asian men were also being viewed as erotic and exotic who were serving as sex objects. Though homosexuality had been in existence in the continent for a long time, it increased with the arrival of colonialism8. In this case, there was a reversed role between Asian men and women. The other reversed gender roles was in India under the rule of Gandhi when men assumed feminist roles so as to build a strong India since women were seen as the pillar of the nation9. Women got enough limelight in the country’s politics thus most men envied women influence in politics and leadership. Therefore, colonization acted as a game changer for sexuality and gender as it changed both the roles of women and men. When Japan colonized Korea for example, Japanese government went ahead and mobilized Asian women to the military brothels to serve the Japanese soldiers with sexual pleasures. Majority of the women were young and unmarried10. Japan was a powerful country at the colonization era that colonized such countries like Korea where women suffered sexual abuses. They were forced to go serve the Japanese soldiers. Therefore, this era presented a colonial power that weakened the female gender. On the other hand, it presented a gender hierarchy that made women inferior but men were rather superior with so many powers over the Asian women. Colonization has been known to originate from the western countries but Japan, being an Asian country conquered some of its neighbours. However, they borrowed the act of sexually enslaving women from the Western countries. This colonization gave Japan a social class that separated it from other Asian countries. Therefore, colonization gave rise to excess powers, gender hierarchies and inseparable social classes that weakened the female gender making them vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Stoler in her book outcries to the ethnographers that there were too much sensibilities related to sex and gender due to racialised regimes in the colonial era11. On the other hand, the author argues that the colonial regimes in Asia used sexual control to dictate the bodily politics of these countries. This is because sexual control dictated securing of the racial policies as well as enacting of these policies (p78). For instance, it was a policy for the Asian women to become comfort women to the colonial soldiers, especially the Americans. Therefore, race was a colonial factor that affected sexuality and gender of the colonies or the protectorates. However, this domestic arrangement at would later form the basis of the structures of the colonial powers. Briefly, the colonial era led to issues like racism that would later view women as erotic objects that were enjoyed by the elite. However, the way the Western countries view Asian gender and sexuality has a lot to do with the modern media through movies and televisions12. Asians for instance are underrepresented in the media of the western countries. The neglect is a situation to worry about since they deny this less diverse Asians the chance to rewrite their history about certain sexual mythologies. This has created room for the sexual exploitation of these Asian women in countries like America as well as Europe. In America for instance, the Asian women are still vulnerable to stereotypes since they are unequally represented in the media creating room for the existence of the usual beliefs and myths as well as misunderstandings about them. Most western media do cast Asian women as subservient, exotic and sexual13. This is leading to an inherent projection of falsehood about the Asian women and it will give these women more burden of gender and racial stereotyping. The viewing of Asian women as erotic an exotic is still prevalent in the Western countries through the media. Though there have been efforts by the western media to eliminate films that stereotype Asian women, their sexual exploitation is still at large14. There are relatively a small number of actors with Asian origins who feature in western films. However, these actors mostly play stereotypical roles of sexualized female, model minority and sexualized male. One example of such actors of Asian origin is the Lucy Liu’s film that America is undecided on whether to refer to her as a curse or a heroine. In such movies, the Asian women are viewed as addicts of casual sex which they use to get their way around men. Therefore, the western media is still sexually exploiting the Asian women as sexual objects by commercializing the fact that Asian women are sex puppets. This is a way of perpetuating stereotypes of the Asian women. The other manifestation of the erotic exotic and marker of the other is the fact that Asian provides a perfect destination for sex tourism for the west15. For instance, China has sex museums that show their sexual encounters as cultural heritage. Therefore, sex tourism in the Asian continent still views women as objects of sex. Westerners therefore still view the Asians erotic creatures who satisfies their sexual needs. However, with sex tourism, there have been outcries from sexual activists from the western world. The western world did influence gender and sexuality of the Asian continent during their conquest. The Western nations are now seeing an Asian continent that allows same gender sex. This shows that gender and sexuality has taken a new twist in the continent. There is a change of roles for both females and males. Asian is experiencing a new generation of lesbians and gays, a trend that was only known to the Western cultures. Interestingly, there is a prevalence of HIV/AIDS within the Asian women that shows that sex tourism is taking a toll on the Asian population. Therefore, the West is currently viewing gender and sexuality of the Asian as complex since sex tourism has led to such situations like homosexuality and lesbianism that calls for sexual activism though eroticism is still at large. Conclusion In summary, the notion Orient and exotic other shaped sexuality and gender of the Asian history. These were elements that were developed during the colonial era. The West, as colonizers, saw Asian sexuality and gender as erotic and exotic that could be enjoyed by the ‘other’. This means that the inferior Asia was providing sexual pleasures to the superior West. There are numerous instances in history when the Asian women were used as sexual objects. For instance, the American wars with the Philippines, China and Japan saw the colonial regime force the Asian women to provide sexual satisfaction and comfort. Besides, Asian women in the colonial films were rather portrayed in extremely erotic manner. This stereotyping was also felt in American when Asian women migrated to US and they were referred to as China Mary. Japan’s colonization justified the use of women as sex pets in the colonial era. Besides, the rise of homosexuality among Asian men was another influence of colonization. However, the Asians are still depicted as exotic and erotic who provide pleasure that is termed in the modern world as sex tourism. The West still sees it as a sex orient continent but there has been an increased sex activism due to rise of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS. References Eng, David. 1994. In the Shadow of the Diva: Committing homosexuality in Hwang’s M. Butterfly. Amerasia Journal 20:1 93-116. Jackson, M. 1987. 'Facts of. Life' or the eroticization of women's oppression? Sexology and the social construction of heterosexuality in P. Caplan, (ed.), The Cultural Construction of Sexuality, London: Tavistock Publications pp. 52-81. Leano Christina June 2011. The colonization of the female body, viewed 4 march 2014 http://www.feministezine.com/feminist/international/Colonization-of-the-Female-Body.html Nanda, Serena. 1994. Hijras: An Alternative Sex and Gender Role in India in Herdt, Gilbert. (ed). Third Sex, Third Gender: Beyond Sexual Dimorphism in Culture and History, New York: Zone Books pp.373-417. Smith Dottie 2014, The history of the Chinese in Shasta County, ShastaCountyHistory.com, viewed 4 march 2014 http://shastacountyhistory.com/chinese_history Stoler, Ann. 2002. Carnal knowledge and imperial power : race and the intimate in colonial rule. Berkeley : University of California Press. Read More