Abstract:
This thesis commits to highlighting major stereotypes concerning Asians and Asian
Americans found in the U.S. media, the “Yellow Peril,” the perpetual foreigner, the model
minority, and problematic representations of gender and sexuality.
In the U.S. media, Asians and Asian Americans are greatly underrepresented. Acting
roles that are granted to them in television series, films, and shows usually consist of stereotyped
characters. It is unacceptable to socialize such stereotypes, for the media play a significant role
of education and social networking which help people understand themselves and their relation
with others.
Within the limited pages of the thesis, I devote to exploring such labels as the “Yellow Peril,”
perpetual foreigner, the model minority, the emasculated Asian male and the hyper-sexualized
Asian female in the U.S. media. In doing so I hope to promote awareness of such typecasts by
white dominant culture and society to ethnic minorities in the U.S.
