misrepresentation & harmful stereotypes in mediaPop culture and media have thrived off of harmful stereotypes and problematic portrayals of minorities for decades. The intersection of race and gender has caused Asian women, specifically, to become easy targets. Whether it is in plays, movies, or stories, Asian women have been split into two categories: meek and submissive, or rebellious and mysterious. This means that the character development/storylines of these women are never explored, oftentimes because they are misrepresented by writers who don’t do the characters justice. These surface level and stereotypical portrayals of Asian women strip them of their humanity, leading to hypersexualization. However, in recent years, movies with Asian casts and writers have begun to break stereotypes. In September, an Asian centered Marvel film titled “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” was released. Breaking viewing records, it is known for its memorable characters and representation of the Asian community. The movie is centered upon Shang-Chi, played by Simu Liu, but another notable character is Xialing, played by Meng’er Zhang. Instead of playing into tropes, the movie does an excellent job of representing characters. Zhang’s representation of Xialing challenged these stereotypes. Instead of falling into Hollywood’s stereotypical “rebellious Asian” role, she worked with the director to unravel the trope. One way she did this was with her appearance. Zhang worked to combat the “rebel” stereotype by changing her character's portrayal, requesting the originally red streaked hair for her character to become black. Although it might be an obscure detail, oftentimes Asian women who are considered “rebellious” are portrayed with colored streaks in their hair to differentiate themselves. Not only does it enforce the stereotypes that Asian women with natural or black hair are docile; it exotifies any Asian woman with dyed hair. The misrepresentation of Asian women goes far beyond looks. Western media perpetuates the stereotypes of Asian women being sexualized objects with no intrinsic value. Their roles only matter in relation to other characters. Shang-Chi accurately explores a new perspective, one where the femininity of Asian women is associated with strength, becoming a characteristic that should not be alienated or condemned. Xialing has deep ties with her family and these relationships are further explored, causing her to grow as an individual. This is acknowledged in multiple instances throughout the film, but it is especially noticeable when it is revealed that Xialing runs her own fight club. When she initially appears in the film, her character is presented as a strong, fierce, unstoppable female. She has her own fight club, a father who doesn't care about her, and a brother who abandoned her, but “nevertheless she persisted”, a slogan that the media never portrays Asian women with.
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February 2023
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