Glorification of Asian Culture

Asian culture, in particular, has been a large victim of fetishization within the United States despite the heavy racism many Asian Americans have endured throughout time.

This can be attributed to the model minority myth, where Asian women in particular are seen as submissive, quiet, and obedient. An extremely harmful stereotype for women. Due to this, many Asian women are sexualized and fetishized, especially with the rise in consumption of Asian media, particularly in anime.

Many garments in Asian culture have been sexualized, worn incorrectly, and appropriated. Although there are many people who have appreciated the culture by wearing traditional garments correctly, there are also many who have worn them incorrectly. An example of this would be the ao dai, a traditional Vietnamese garment with high slits meant to be worn with pants. Qipaos meant to be long are cut short and made into attire that is supposed to be more “sexy.” Due to this, many have been outraged; however, they have been brushed off as “just being a dress, it is not that serious.” This type of appropriation is inherently harmful and only causes hard feelings within oneself.

Additionally, many people ignore Japan’s violent past during World War II. They were, in simple terms, the world’s biggest enemy due to their war crimes. They have historically not apologized for their problematic past, and do not currently teach it in their schools. Despite this, many people take vacations, and Japan has been one of the most visited countries for decades.