Why do people assume you like Asian/Oriental things if you are Asian?

Question

People always showing me Asian things like some Crouching Tiger or Bruce Lee video and assume i am going to like it. Yes, I am Asian but was raised here in the states. I like the same things as the other guy next door. You ever get that?

Answer 1

I don't get it, but I understand your frustations. Americans don't understand that looking Asian doesn't mean you have to know everything about Asia. So many times people don't know the difference between Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, etc. I have a friend who Vietnam who keeps being asked to translate things from Chinese. People are just ignorant.

Answer 2

I have a three year old daughter who was adopted from China. She's been with us almost three years, and she is already getting that. She does like Asian things, but she is an All American Kid, and gravitates to the same things her non-Asian cohorts do. I think people do this as a way to let you know they accept or recognize your ancestry or the culture of your ancestry. It was the same for my husband and I when we were in China, the folks there all thought we wanted to go to the Wal-Mart in the province. I don't think it's done to be demeaning.

Answer 3

i was born and raised in london, in the UK and yet do people ask me things like that? not often but when they do, i am not too annoyed about it. like yourself, i like a lot of the western culture but at the same time, i don't want to neglect my chinese roots. i can understand why it irritates you because when people look at the colour of your skin, they'd say something about bruce lee, jackie chan or whatever, and you just want them to change the subject. as you said it yourself, you're american born and so, you have both american and chinese blood running inside of you. after all, you were born with both cultures: chinese and american but some people assume you only have chinese, which for you, you believe otherwise. its same type of thing i put up with by being a british born chinese person, and probably the same type of thing other asian amercians like yourself, chinese australians, south africans, canadians etc go through as well.

most of my favourite celebrities are either black, white; besides colour shouldn't be an issue in itself. its not for me anyway

Answer 4

Because some people are just stupid that way. They're trying to be nice I guess, but it is also being ignorant. I don't mind myself. I'm Asian too and raised most of my life in Canada. I haven't had what you experienced much though.

Answer 5

Some people are racist, if only slightly. However, some try to associate things of a kind so to speak.Not that they try to ,but they may try using something that they think you will know, and like ,in order to find a common ground for you to talk about.Don't take it personal,but also don't be afraid to tell them your opinion on that subject. Use their [ignorance] to help better educate people on this subject. Turn it around and make it a positive for all of us.

Answer 6

You are so right and gave me something to think about as I have a Japanese co worker who is American born and I was looking for something Japanese. Thanks for posing this question, you probably saved me from giving the wrong gift.

Answer 7

Of course..I am Asian too..it sucks but then again, we're exotic! hehehe

Answer 8

haha.. im asian too and wen people do that to me, i just laugh it off

Answer 9

i dont think there is anything wrong with that, that means they admire you, they wanna be part of your world. If you dont like it just say it.

Answer 10

some people are just stupid. a lot of people call me a nazi because im german. and think im a racist ******.