The Importance of Authentic Asian American Representation in Hollywood
This article was written for the Center for Scholars and Storytellers, a UCLA-based organization that is dedicated to bridging the gap between scholars and storytellers to promote positive youth development.
Ages 5-10 were my Full-House-obsessed years. I considered myself an honorary Tanner. Then it was what my parents referred to as “The Inappropriate Show,” also known as Saturday Night Live. They thought it was too mature for my little sister and me, but we loved it. The Office got me through stressful high school times and now I quote it without thinking. However, amidst the joy these shows brought me, as a Korean-American I have been continually let down by the lack of representation of Asians in Hollywood. It makes me angry -- shattering the meek, silent-in-the-midst-of-unfairness and rarely impassioned portrait that the media has painted of people like me. Asians have often been portrayed as weak, nerdy, exotic, incompetent, powerless, and are seldom in the spotlight as lead characters.
Notable progress has been made, however, in the past few years with the successes of Crazy Rich Asians, ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat, and Netflix’s Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj. Hollywood is portraying the Asian American community in a more authentic light than before; but while progress is exciting, there is still more to do when it comes to true representation on-screen and behind the scenes. What we view on-screen reaches far beyond entertainment; films and television shows also impact mental health, identity, and race relations as they pertain to Asian Americans. Content creators and industry decision-makers have an opportunity and a duty to yield this powerfully influential medium in a more responsible manner.
EFFECT ON CHILDREN
Personal identity is heavily influenced by the media, starting from a young age. Film and television have become avenues for imprinting stories in history. When it comes to Asian stories, absence is noteworthy. The pride I felt watching Crazy Rich Asians’ all-Asian cast surprised me, as if the sudden surge in representation alerted me to its prior absence. Asian children will subconsciously internalize an omission of Asian faces in the content they watch as an indication of their perceived invisibility or the box they are subjected to in the workplace and the world. Research shows that people exhibit feelings like shame and anxiety when viewing stereotypical representations of their racial group, even those framed as exaggeration or parody. While Hollywood has since moved away from glaring racism of characters such as Long Duk Dong, the foreign exchange student in 16 Candles, Asian actors continue to be typecast and are still underrepresented in major film roles.
MODEL MINORITY MYTH
In today’s society, Asians are often stereotyped as over-achievers who obtain financial and educational stability: the 4.0 students, doctors, and Tiger-parents. They’ve been framed as the “model minority” within American culture -- the minority group that worked its way to success. This myth implies that other minority groups are lesser-than or do not work as hard, and also negates the ever-present discrimination that Asians and other minority groups experience. The myth also suggests that Asians belong to one homogenous group that shares the same attributes, when in fact, there are many subsections of the Asian community - composed of individuals each with their own stories and struggles. Effects of this perpetuated stereotype in the media jump from the screen into reality. Racial bias, even nonverbal, can be imprinted on people through the screen. It is perplexing how Asians are viewed as diligent and hardworking, yet rarely with strong leadership qualities or charisma. The scarcity of positions of power played by Asians in film and television is reflected in many aspects of life. In fact, according to Harvard Business Review, Asians are the least likely group to be promoted to management in the United States. While this can also be attributed to differing cultural values and other factors, media is influential in reinforcing these attitudes and perceptions.
TOKENISM BEHIND THE SCENES
What we see on-screen should not be the only aspect of representation examined. The majority of successful endeavors featuring Asian actors and stories were backed by Asians behind the scenes. More Asian studio heads, casting directors, producers, writers, showrunners and filmmakers means more advocacy and support for these stories and artists. Great strides have been made and writers’ room representation has significantly improved; however, discrimination still exists here. Large networks host diversity training programs in which writers of color have the opportunity to be staffed on television shows. The networks and studios subsidize writers’ salaries, incentivizing shows to employ these essentially free “diversity hires.” It is common for showrunners to let these writers go after their wages are no longer paid for, communicating that they are only hirable when free. Diversity in numbers is insufficient as long as Asians are not receiving the same opportunities to succeed in this industry.
On YouTube, people produce their own content with virtually zero gatekeeping. It is no coincidence that Asians have become some of the most popular and prevalent faces on the platform, with millions of subscribers and views. From beauty guru Michelle Phan, to comedy YouTuber NigaHiga, there is tangible proof that when given a fair opportunity, the Asian community thrives and reaches incredibly far.
FINANCIAL BENEFITS
If the moral facet of equal Asian representation in Hollywood is not enough to motivate content creators and gatekeepers, there is data that supports financial incentive. Asians are the fastest growing racial group in the country with a buying power of $1 trillion in 2018. They lead the nation in internet connectivity, enabling them to consume television via broadband and subscription video on demand faster than any other group nationwide. An average Asian household will watch about 23 hours of television per week, and the percentage with subscriptions to services such as Netflix and Hulu surpasses that of the remaining population. It is clear that Asians possess considerable buying power in the US and make up a large, expanding segment of media audiences.
Hearing Bowen Yang, SNL’s first Asian cast member after 45 seasons, refer to himself as the “Lizzo of China” while playing a government official on Weekend Update, filled me with pride. It was not until I saw myself on-screen that I realized I had been missing this feeling my whole life, and I needed more. There is more work to do, more stories to tell, always. There’s great power in representation. My Asian-Americanness is of value, and I expect the country in which I live to reflect the same.
ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS
Write Asian characters that defy stereotypes, even if stereotypes are seemingly “positive.”
Portray all groups that are part of the Asian community as unique with distinct stories, cultures, and struggles. This includes groups like the Bhutanese and Burmese that suffer from a poverty rate that is twice as high as the national average, yet experience the repercussions of the model minority myth.
Feature more Asians in positions of power and leadership on-screen.
Hire more Asians in behind-the-scenes positions: writers, directors, studio executives, casting directors, producers, showrunners, filmmakers. Rich and authentic stories come from those who can speak from experience and incorporate essential nuances to the characters and their interactions with the world around them.
Avoid framing content created by and featuring Asians solely as “Asian films.” While still taking their cultures into account, remember that Asians are normal people who have more to offer than just the fact that they are Asian.