2007 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Research on Reactions against Orientalism among Asian American Communities in terms of Gender
| Project/Area Number |
18510239
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Gender
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| Research Institution | Gifu Shotoku Gakuen University |
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Principal Investigator |
KAWARASAKI Yasuko Gifu Shotoku Gakuen University, Faculty of Languages, Professor (80341808)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KOBAYASHI Fukuko Wasead University, School of Education, Professor (00063751)
HIRAISHI Taeko Kyoritsu Women's University, Faculty of International Studies, Professor (80060705)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2006 – 2007
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| Keywords | gender / Orientalism / Asian American / community / stereotype |
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| Research Abstract |
This research tries to investigate how Asian American people have reacted against oppression of Orientalism. Orientalism is obviously a gendered discourse historically applied to Asians/Asian Americans, aiming at weakening their powers which have been threatening for whites. Our hypothesis is that Orientalism today has lost its power to some extent, because various tactics for fighting have obviously emerged and widely spread.
After literature research on Asian Americans and Orientalism, we conducted interviews with community leaders, asking their view on present situations related Orientalism. Among the interviewees were Elain Kim, Russell Leon and Tritia Toyota, all of whom are regarded as the pioneer driving forces for Asian American communities. According to their responses, we understand that (1) most interviewees had the personal experiences of Orientalism which eventually drove them to fight against it, (2) Orientalism today has transformed its original shape but still maintains its power or even empowers itself by utilizing new technologies such as internet and blogs, and (3) thus each person continues to confront Orientalism in his/her own way still now. The important point for future tactics they mentioned can be summarized as this: (1) creating positive images of Asian Americans, (2) producing counter narratives against Orientalism, (3) searching for roll-models among Asian Americans, (4) calling for the recognition of authentic(and not stereotyped) Asian Americans.
It is clear that Orientalism continues to be the powerful counter discourse even today, and Asian American communities are still on its way of coping with the problems concerning it. We should continue close observation on this area, especially how their struggles will be changing and how political power relations or other factors such as the internalization of Orientalism among Asian Americans will affect the situation.
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