Jong Hoyeon
As globalization continues making entertainment more accessible, media made by Asians starring Asians has become increasingly popular among the mainstream American audience. Be it Crazy Rich Asians setting a record as the highest-grossing romantic comedy in a decade or the recent internet phenomenon of Netflix’s Squid Game, it is clear that Asian creatives have made their mark on American pop culture. This spotlight is accompanied by the question of which Asians are allowed to reap the benefits of media representation and which ones are excluded from the conversation. South Asians are not commonly recognized as part of the Asian community, which was made clear by the misleading press surrounding Jung Hoyeon’s feature as the February cover star of Vogue U.S.
On Jan. 6, Jung’s management company, Saram Entertainment, claimed that she was selected to be “the first Asian Vogue U.S. solo cover model”, and many news outlets proceeded to parrot the phrase “first Asian” in headlines when reporting on this announcement (Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation News). However, Priyanka Chopra, a famous Indian actress and model, was also featured on an American Vogue cover in 2019. Disregarding Chopra’s identity as an Asian woman feeds into the harmful idea that South Asians are somehow distinct from other Asians. During discussions over the label “Asian” and its effectiveness as a categorization, it is important to look at historical context as well as listen to South Asian voices.
“I think that the headlines were misleading and could potentially come off as ignorant [when] they infer that Priyanka Chopra and South Asians are not [considered real] ‘Asians’,” junior Meghan Ke said. “People often connect the word ‘Asian’ to the basic stereotype of an East Asian–a Korean, Chinese or Japanese person. [Individuals] need to realize that just because someone does not meet their expectation of what an Asian person should look like, [it] does not mean that they are not [Asian].”
Modern notions of the term “Asian” originate from the mid-1800s, when a large wave of Chinese immigrants arrived in the U.S. seeking labor opportunities (Public Broadcasting Service). Therefore, many Americans have a preconceived image of what Asian people look like based on historical representation within the U.S. and insufficient knowledge about ethnic diversity. The U.S. Asian population encompasses approximately 50 ethnic groups speaking over 100 different languages, and East Asians comprise only a part of that number. Chinese Americans make up 24% of all Asian Americans, but they are closely followed by Indian Americans, who make up 21%. Yet a study done by the National Asian American Survey in 2016 found that 42% of white Americans considered Indians “not likely to be” Asian or Asian American, and 15% of Asian Americans believed the same (Time Magazine). From within the Asian community and outside it, there is a clear refusal to label South Asians as being “Asian”, making some South Asians feel as though it is better to distance language from that generalized term.
“I do not know if I want to call myself an Asian person because that comes with the assumption that I am either Chinese, Japanese or Korean,” junior Madhurima Premkumar said. “That is just what people think, and I cannot really change that. People look at me and think ‘Indian’, [and] I feel like I prefer that.”
While discussing Asian people, it is important to note that no community is monolithic, and the goal should be to respect marginalized individuals as well as preserve solidarity. Too often, American media paints all Asians as being culturally synonymous and homogenizes them behind East Asian stereotypes. The term “Asian American” was created in 1968 by student activists as a protest against systemic racism and imperialism (National Broadcasting Company News). The phrase is meant to unite, not perpetuate division amongst Asians and ostracize specific groups. In the situation with Jung, her company and South Korean news outlets were ignorant of Chopra’s identity as both Indian and Asian. It is possible to celebrate East Asian success without erasing South Asians’ achievements from the narrative. Activism can only be truly radical if it simultaneously makes space for nuanced identities and empowers collective social justice.
“This issue is not just some small inconsistency [because] it causes people of the Asian community to feel detached from their racial group,” senior Simren Parikh said. “The Asian community in the United States has almost become exclusive to East Asians. As a result, the rest of the Asian population lack representation and do not feel welcome in their own community.”
