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The Asian Mystique: Dragon Ladies, Geisha Girls, and Our Fantasies of the Exotic Orient
Few Westerners escape the images, expectations and misperceptions that lead us to see Asia as exotic, sensual, decadent, dangerous, and mysterious. Despite — and because of — centuries of East-West interaction, the stereotypes of Western literature, stage, and screen remain pervasive the tea-pouring, submissive, sexually available geisha girl; the steely cold dragon lady dominatrix; as well as the portrayal of the Asian male as effeminate and asexual. These "Oriental" illusions color our relations and relationships in ways even well-respected professional "Asia hands" and scholars don't necessarily see. The Asian Mystique lays out a provocative challenge to see Asia and Asians as they really are, with unclouded, deeroticized eyes. It traces the origins of Western stereotypes in history and in Hollywood, examines the phenomenon of ‘yellow fever,' then goes on a reality tour of Asia's go-go bars, middle-class homes, college campuses, business districts, and corridors of power, providing intimate profiles of women's lives and vivid portraits of the human side of an Asia we usually mythologize too well to really understand. It strips away our misconceptions and stereotypes, revealing instead the fully dimensional human beings beyond our usual perceptions. The Asian Mystique is required reading for anyone with interest in or interaction with Asia or Asian-origin people, as well as any serious student or practicioner of East-West relations.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 10, 2009
Generally well researched but entirely lacking in intelligent analysis, a flaw that occasionally results in offensive assumptions and risible incoherencies. Only the first two chapters address Western-constructed Asian exoticism, though this is ostensibly the topic of the book. These chapters are well researched and interesting, and offer a decent--though often overreaching--account of how Asian stereotypes evolved from colonial-era racism and pornography. But from there, the book devolves into a series of interviews utterly bereft of insight or critique, qualities that are desperately needed to sort out the morass of prejudices and sexual politics that Prasso unthinkingly reproduces for her readers.
For example, she frequently undermines her own pronouncements on Asian sexual mores and gender equity. Asian women who claim to be empowered by stay-at-home housewifery, who sneer at their career-oriented peers, are taken at their word. In fact, Prasso falls over herself to make clear that these women are fully autonomous, utterly content, and that readers must not superimpose Western women's lib notions onto this separate and unique culture. Chapters later, she profiles women from the same country and culture who agitate against entrenched sexism, fighting for the right to have men's jobs at men's pay. These women are heralded as heroes. There is no acknowledgment of the possibility that sexual politics in this country might be complex and contradictory and, here's an idea, a lot like that in the West.
She appears similarly confused about how colonialism in various Asian countries affected local sexual preferences and conceptions of beauty. One moment she claims that Westerners imported their preference for light-skinned women, the next she remembers light skin has traditionally been an indicator of aristocracy and leisure in the region. She vacillates between brash claims against White Devils and the pestilence they visited on the good peoples of Asia (the awful Catholics importing their prudishness and patriarchy!), and the more prosaic reality that sexual politics in all of these cultures has always been fraught and complex. She also seems to have forgotten that there is a history of imperialism, ethnic chauvinism, and sexual variety in Asia that long predates the arrival of Westerners.
The rest of the book is spent trotting around night clubs and red light districts, collecting increasingly lurid stories about how relationships between two economic unequals can look a lot like--shock and dismay!--prostitution. At this point, Prasso simply abandons the project of dissecting Western prejudices in favor of writing first-person accounts of go-go bars.
Worst of all is Prasso's inability to offer any kind of synthesis or analysis of the many self-serving, emotionally fraught testimonies and random prurient anecdotes she has collected. After a token disclaimer that many relationships between white and Asian people are equitable and healthy and, you know, whatever, she quotes at length from online forums for mail-order-bride patrons and Thai sex tourists. Then she offers this account: "A Chinese-American woman I know broke off her engagement to a white man after realizing with horror that it was her very girlish figure, quite literally, that attracted him... After dating him for a year, she suspected pedophilia." Maybe Asian women occupy a suspended state of prepubescence, Prasso is musing, and attraction to Asian women is necessarily sexually perverse. Then she proceeds cheerily on to the next topic without considering the explosive implications of this thought.
Hilariously enough, the stereotypes of Asian women as victims and of Asian women as sexual deviants are the very prejudices she had set out to defy, and yet here she is, using them to sell her book. Classic.
For example, she frequently undermines her own pronouncements on Asian sexual mores and gender equity. Asian women who claim to be empowered by stay-at-home housewifery, who sneer at their career-oriented peers, are taken at their word. In fact, Prasso falls over herself to make clear that these women are fully autonomous, utterly content, and that readers must not superimpose Western women's lib notions onto this separate and unique culture. Chapters later, she profiles women from the same country and culture who agitate against entrenched sexism, fighting for the right to have men's jobs at men's pay. These women are heralded as heroes. There is no acknowledgment of the possibility that sexual politics in this country might be complex and contradictory and, here's an idea, a lot like that in the West.
She appears similarly confused about how colonialism in various Asian countries affected local sexual preferences and conceptions of beauty. One moment she claims that Westerners imported their preference for light-skinned women, the next she remembers light skin has traditionally been an indicator of aristocracy and leisure in the region. She vacillates between brash claims against White Devils and the pestilence they visited on the good peoples of Asia (the awful Catholics importing their prudishness and patriarchy!), and the more prosaic reality that sexual politics in all of these cultures has always been fraught and complex. She also seems to have forgotten that there is a history of imperialism, ethnic chauvinism, and sexual variety in Asia that long predates the arrival of Westerners.
The rest of the book is spent trotting around night clubs and red light districts, collecting increasingly lurid stories about how relationships between two economic unequals can look a lot like--shock and dismay!--prostitution. At this point, Prasso simply abandons the project of dissecting Western prejudices in favor of writing first-person accounts of go-go bars.
Worst of all is Prasso's inability to offer any kind of synthesis or analysis of the many self-serving, emotionally fraught testimonies and random prurient anecdotes she has collected. After a token disclaimer that many relationships between white and Asian people are equitable and healthy and, you know, whatever, she quotes at length from online forums for mail-order-bride patrons and Thai sex tourists. Then she offers this account: "A Chinese-American woman I know broke off her engagement to a white man after realizing with horror that it was her very girlish figure, quite literally, that attracted him... After dating him for a year, she suspected pedophilia." Maybe Asian women occupy a suspended state of prepubescence, Prasso is musing, and attraction to Asian women is necessarily sexually perverse. Then she proceeds cheerily on to the next topic without considering the explosive implications of this thought.
Hilariously enough, the stereotypes of Asian women as victims and of Asian women as sexual deviants are the very prejudices she had set out to defy, and yet here she is, using them to sell her book. Classic.
September 20, 2014
Author Sheridan Prasso’s background as a business journalist living for almost 25 years in different parts of Asia, including China, Japan, Cambodia and Hong Kong has served her well in the writing of The Asian Mystique. In this book, she explores, through a combination of her own observations, research, and interviews with distinctive Asian women of various backgrounds, the many deeply-held stereotypes that Westerners have of both Asian women and men.
As a third-generation Asian American man, I found the book compelling, but particularly so from this standpoint: I have never read any in-depth writing that analyzes in such depth and with such insight, long-held stereotypes of the Asian man. Never mind the stereotypes of the domineering dragon lady or the sexually submissive geisha, which are real but have been well-chronicled, I’m more interested in how the guys are depicted. As Ms. Prasso points out, Asian men have long suffered from a series of negative western stereotypes: The emasculated weakling, the evil, cunning devil-like monster (Fu Manchi), the sexual predator of white women. What is remarkable to me is how virtually no one has even touched upon this subject until Prasso did in The Asian Mystique. Even Asian writers and journalists have avoided this subject, despite the real impact of these stereotypes even in the present day. Today, Asian men remain at the bottom of the sexual desirability pecking order. Most Asian women, when given a choice, will overwhelmingly opt for the White guy. As far as White women, well, how many White women have you seen with Asian men?
Ms. Prasso takes up the topic of the western emasculation of the Asian male head-on, with notable courage, because undoubtedly, even though well-documented, some would prefer to bitterly dispute this premise. It is noted that even though The Asian Mystique has been around for a few years, its analysis is as fresh today as ever. James Shigeta, the once great hope for the Asian male, died earler this year. He was the one Asian man who actually got the woman, and in one case, in the 1961 feature film “Bridge to the Sun” he actually played the husband of leading lady Carroll Baker! Now, more than 50 years later, all would agree that the idea of an Asian male leading man opposite say, Scarlett Johanssen, would be quite unthinkable. I wonder whether the dream of the universally desirable, or at least acceptable, Asian man died along with Mr. Shigeta.
I highly recommend The Asian Mystique to anyone interested in the Asia Pacific region and its people, and how the prevailing western view of Asian Pacific people arose out of of negative racial stereotypes perpetuated in the mass media and popular culture over a period of many decades. Ms. Prasso does not claim to have all the answers, but embarks on a serious, scholarly analysis of a highly-charged subject and employs her finely-tuned literary and journalistic skills in an informative and entertaining page-turning work that held my rapt attention throughout.
As a third-generation Asian American man, I found the book compelling, but particularly so from this standpoint: I have never read any in-depth writing that analyzes in such depth and with such insight, long-held stereotypes of the Asian man. Never mind the stereotypes of the domineering dragon lady or the sexually submissive geisha, which are real but have been well-chronicled, I’m more interested in how the guys are depicted. As Ms. Prasso points out, Asian men have long suffered from a series of negative western stereotypes: The emasculated weakling, the evil, cunning devil-like monster (Fu Manchi), the sexual predator of white women. What is remarkable to me is how virtually no one has even touched upon this subject until Prasso did in The Asian Mystique. Even Asian writers and journalists have avoided this subject, despite the real impact of these stereotypes even in the present day. Today, Asian men remain at the bottom of the sexual desirability pecking order. Most Asian women, when given a choice, will overwhelmingly opt for the White guy. As far as White women, well, how many White women have you seen with Asian men?
Ms. Prasso takes up the topic of the western emasculation of the Asian male head-on, with notable courage, because undoubtedly, even though well-documented, some would prefer to bitterly dispute this premise. It is noted that even though The Asian Mystique has been around for a few years, its analysis is as fresh today as ever. James Shigeta, the once great hope for the Asian male, died earler this year. He was the one Asian man who actually got the woman, and in one case, in the 1961 feature film “Bridge to the Sun” he actually played the husband of leading lady Carroll Baker! Now, more than 50 years later, all would agree that the idea of an Asian male leading man opposite say, Scarlett Johanssen, would be quite unthinkable. I wonder whether the dream of the universally desirable, or at least acceptable, Asian man died along with Mr. Shigeta.
I highly recommend The Asian Mystique to anyone interested in the Asia Pacific region and its people, and how the prevailing western view of Asian Pacific people arose out of of negative racial stereotypes perpetuated in the mass media and popular culture over a period of many decades. Ms. Prasso does not claim to have all the answers, but embarks on a serious, scholarly analysis of a highly-charged subject and employs her finely-tuned literary and journalistic skills in an informative and entertaining page-turning work that held my rapt attention throughout.
March 16, 2014
In the Asian Mystique: Dragon Ladies, Geisha Girls, & Our Fantasies of the Exotic Orient, Sheridan Prasso deconstructs the history of this Western bias toward Eastern fantasy and exoticism. It is a well grounded writing: giving Edward Said heavy literary theory of Orientalism the touch of real live stories. After ten years of matriculate data collection, hanging out at go-go bars and hopping between countries, Sheri tells stories of women across Asia in different professions, facing different and diverse difficulties: some strive to make ends meet while others struggle to be recognized professionally as equal footing to men. The difficulties one may meet as a woman or as a person elsewhere - something that provokes and challenges that there exists one typical type of exotic Asian girl.
Further, the strength of the Asian Mystique comes from Sheri's longstanding experience and knowledge on Asian history and current affairs as she has been a journalist since the end of 1980s, which allows her to tell these tales in conjunction with socio-economic changes of the country - to contextualize the stories so to speak. The Asian Mystique is a compelling work and should be read by anyone interested in Asian studies, Gender studies and to say the least, the art of writing. The stories of all women in the book are well composed with different voices and various ways of profiling.
The best part? At the very end of the the last chapter, the Asian Mystique deals with how Asian perception to Asian women help to perpetuate these biases. The negative worldview against Asian exoticism is not only western constructed. In fact, it has become the reality of many including amongst Asian.
Internal discrimination is the worst of its kind.
http://amplao.com/2014/03/11/take-me-...
Further, the strength of the Asian Mystique comes from Sheri's longstanding experience and knowledge on Asian history and current affairs as she has been a journalist since the end of 1980s, which allows her to tell these tales in conjunction with socio-economic changes of the country - to contextualize the stories so to speak. The Asian Mystique is a compelling work and should be read by anyone interested in Asian studies, Gender studies and to say the least, the art of writing. The stories of all women in the book are well composed with different voices and various ways of profiling.
The best part? At the very end of the the last chapter, the Asian Mystique deals with how Asian perception to Asian women help to perpetuate these biases. The negative worldview against Asian exoticism is not only western constructed. In fact, it has become the reality of many including amongst Asian.
Internal discrimination is the worst of its kind.
http://amplao.com/2014/03/11/take-me-...
March 31, 2011
I was really excited to finally read this book. Asians and Asian-Americans had a big influence over my life, after all, and I wanted to get to the bottom of the whole Asian girl - White guy thing (since I'm a Caucasian girl who digs Asian guys - never happens in the movies). The book is incredibly well researched, written from a sort of first person when she's describing the amazing women she met all over Asian. The stories are kind of grouped by stereotype (not by country or chronologically) and are definitely well connected within the theme. I was looking for a little more connection as a whole, but it was a little more like a litany or stereotypes with a real-life story that proves that Asians are all just human anyway. I was only slightly disappointed by the writing and journalistic integrity (mostly when she made the same kinds of generalizations about Islamic society as she accused us of making about Asian societies). I was left wanting a central moral or wrap up chapter that sewed all the stories together and gave us some kind of direction on where to go next, or life lessons. Instead, you're kinda like, "wow, that sucks that this stuff happens, I'm really glad I read this book..."
All in all a great read, very informative and juicy in both the history lessons and the contemporary portraits of real people.
All in all a great read, very informative and juicy in both the history lessons and the contemporary portraits of real people.
December 24, 2015
I was looking for a good intro book to learn about Asian fetishism and this book was just that. It uses interviews, research, and personal stories to better understand Western fascination with Asia. The book starts with the typical idea of Asia as the "exotic" East and the way it's viewed as seductive and mystical and tries to deconstruct that impression with context and interviews. Prasso's chapters vary in subject and try to understand concepts like Yellow Fever, Hollywood's depiction of Asians throughout history, sex tourism, and the stereotypes associated with Asian culture being viewed as a monolith. Passo will typically start a chapter with an interview or following the interviewee and talking about their culture. Passo is very detailed in her examination and uses multiple sources for historical context. Passo uses differing poitns of view from either side in an attempt to balance her studies.
But while it's a good read, it's also important to remember that it's not the go-to book on this subject. Passo herself isn't Asian and views Asian culture through an "observer's lens" so she might not understand the cultural context as well as a person who was born and raised in the culture. She barely talks about the role religion might play in culture . Passo also doesn't speak the languages of any country that she goes to and relies on English or a translator for her interviews . The interviews themselves are also subjective and follow one person or a small group instead of a group of varying ideals. Passo will also make generalization about the people based on the interview . Her book focuses mainly on East and Southeast Asia and doesn't really touch on West or South Asian culture and the way it's viewed by Westerners. The closest she gets to South Asia is Burma (Myanmar). In the chapter on fetishization she also briefly touches on sexual abuse and assult by fetishizers but doesn't go fully into it. She also doesn't have any Asian-American interviews and how they're also subjected to the "Asian Mystique". Almost no interviews with Asian men even though there's a chapter about the way Asian men are portrayed in Western media. Briefly talks on Western intervention in East/Southeast Asia but mostly through a sexual lens and not how that may have influenced Asian culture. Semi-narrowness of sex workers as just looking for money or a greencard but also subverted by interviewing most of the sex workers and hearing their economic struggles.
So is it a dope book to read about the history of the "exotic Orient"? Yeah, totally. But remember when you read it that:
• It generalizes some cultures
• There's a language barrier
• There's a pretty big cultural barrier
• There's a religious barrier
• Focuses on East Asia
• Doesn’t talk about Asian-Americans
• No interviews with Asian men
• Narrow view of sex workers
• Written by a non-Asian
Other than that, it's pretty cool.
But while it's a good read, it's also important to remember that it's not the go-to book on this subject. Passo herself isn't Asian and views Asian culture through an "observer's lens" so she might not understand the cultural context as well as a person who was born and raised in the culture. She barely talks about the role religion might play in culture . Passo also doesn't speak the languages of any country that she goes to and relies on English or a translator for her interviews . The interviews themselves are also subjective and follow one person or a small group instead of a group of varying ideals. Passo will also make generalization about the people based on the interview . Her book focuses mainly on East and Southeast Asia and doesn't really touch on West or South Asian culture and the way it's viewed by Westerners. The closest she gets to South Asia is Burma (Myanmar). In the chapter on fetishization she also briefly touches on sexual abuse and assult by fetishizers but doesn't go fully into it. She also doesn't have any Asian-American interviews and how they're also subjected to the "Asian Mystique". Almost no interviews with Asian men even though there's a chapter about the way Asian men are portrayed in Western media. Briefly talks on Western intervention in East/Southeast Asia but mostly through a sexual lens and not how that may have influenced Asian culture. Semi-narrowness of sex workers as just looking for money or a greencard but also subverted by interviewing most of the sex workers and hearing their economic struggles.
So is it a dope book to read about the history of the "exotic Orient"? Yeah, totally. But remember when you read it that:
• It generalizes some cultures
• There's a language barrier
• There's a pretty big cultural barrier
• There's a religious barrier
• Focuses on East Asia
• Doesn’t talk about Asian-Americans
• No interviews with Asian men
• Narrow view of sex workers
• Written by a non-Asian
Other than that, it's pretty cool.
January 4, 2009
"You’ll never plumb the Oriental mind, and if you did, it isn’t worth the toil” were the words of Rudyard Kipling. The idea of the exotic, dangerous and seductive are still how the West sees the East. These misconceptions paint a picture of Asia and Asian people that is far from the truth - labeling women as submissive China doll/geisha girl types or domineering Dragon Lady/Martial Arts Mistress types and men as emasculated, feminine, and weak. Prasso gives an history of how might these stereotypes developed - usually it seemed as fiction passed off as nonfiction in the past of travelers who have claimed to have been East. Also, she provides examples from the past to recent times like, Charlie’s Angels or the American movies featuring Jackie Chan.
The first half of her book is devoted to the more academic, scholarly aspect on the topic. She summarizes the East West relationship thus far and dedicated two chapters to the portrayal of Asian and Asian people in the media. She also covers “Yellow Fever” and the fetish that people seem to have for Asian culture, women, men, etc. Prasso mentions mail-order brides, the idea of Asians being a model minority, and the racism of Asians whether not it is positive or not.
Her second half consists of narratives of women from different parts of the Asia continent. She talks with real geisha, women politicians, Cathay girls, a prostitute, business women, house wives, and etc. A lot of the book deals with the sexual component of the Asian stereotypes and most of the book seem to delve more into the feminine (meaning women) side of stereotypes. I really want to here more about the male side of things and I would also like to see a book about the East’s perceptions on the West, kinda like this one. But overall, a great book for an introduction into Western perceptions on the East.
The first half of her book is devoted to the more academic, scholarly aspect on the topic. She summarizes the East West relationship thus far and dedicated two chapters to the portrayal of Asian and Asian people in the media. She also covers “Yellow Fever” and the fetish that people seem to have for Asian culture, women, men, etc. Prasso mentions mail-order brides, the idea of Asians being a model minority, and the racism of Asians whether not it is positive or not.
Her second half consists of narratives of women from different parts of the Asia continent. She talks with real geisha, women politicians, Cathay girls, a prostitute, business women, house wives, and etc. A lot of the book deals with the sexual component of the Asian stereotypes and most of the book seem to delve more into the feminine (meaning women) side of stereotypes. I really want to here more about the male side of things and I would also like to see a book about the East’s perceptions on the West, kinda like this one. But overall, a great book for an introduction into Western perceptions on the East.
May 31, 2016
This was a book that declined steadily in my estimation. The first part of the book - surveying attitudes about Asian men and women, stereotypes in film and dating contexts - was solid, if not particularly groundbreaking. The first warning sign was the facetious comparisons between depictions/treatment of Asians and black people: i.e. "this wouldn't be accepted if they did it to black people!"
Hint: that kind of comparison is almost never productive and usually just false. People are very racist toward more than one group of people all the time.
Where this book really derailed, though, was in the second section, where the author (who is white) interviewed women throughout Asia in the interest of profiling the diversity of cultures and people. However, more often than not Prasso's profiling just felt vaguely prurient. Her multiple interviews with prostitutes emphasized their physical appearance in highly unfortunate ways, and included some weirdly judgmental comments about their lifestyle and choices. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth.
I cannot in good conscience recommend this book. This escaped getting a one star review only by virtue of the fact that the first section was decent, and did manage to convey some new information.
Hint: that kind of comparison is almost never productive and usually just false. People are very racist toward more than one group of people all the time.
Where this book really derailed, though, was in the second section, where the author (who is white) interviewed women throughout Asia in the interest of profiling the diversity of cultures and people. However, more often than not Prasso's profiling just felt vaguely prurient. Her multiple interviews with prostitutes emphasized their physical appearance in highly unfortunate ways, and included some weirdly judgmental comments about their lifestyle and choices. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth.
I cannot in good conscience recommend this book. This escaped getting a one star review only by virtue of the fact that the first section was decent, and did manage to convey some new information.
August 5, 2008
Sheridan Prasso had visited our campus a few years ago, bearing her international stories and observations regarding Asia -- and notably, Asian women. While the book itself offers substantial commentary on social attitudes and roles of this demographic, it was far more refreshing to listen to Prasso directly. Her personal interviews with women made this easier to apply...despite my tendency to doubt the authority of those who may not immediately identify with an issue, I respected Prasso's perspectives and conclusions from her travels.
April 17, 2013
Well I haven't quite finished my review or even started this but can someone suggest to me an equivalent but in more regards to the asian male? She only dedicated one chapter the subject and I understand that, that may not have been more main intent with the book but I'm just simply wondering is there such an equivalent. By the way I did really enjoy the book
November 7, 2013
I didn't expect to find this book as absorbing as I did. A very interesting look at how the popular tropes of the exotic Asian woman/emasculated Asian man got started. The author was able to interview women from different countries and different walks of life, and their words reflect a more complex reality than can be explained by simple stereotypes.
May 3, 2007
Interesting social review on why Caucasian men like Asian woman, but written in a professional way. Good theories and research done by the author.
December 13, 2019
I really liked this book. It is full of fascinating anecdotes from a wide range of women across Asia in different industries - from politicians to flight attendants - its a great mix of ethnographic and semiotic analysis.
It dissects a wide range of stereotypes that are culturally held about Asian women and explores why brands continue to use 'the Asian mystique'. I felt like the book is seperated into two halves - the first section is data and interview driven, semiotic and historical analysis eg, the portrayal of Asian identity in Hollywood films, while the second section is full of more lengthy anecdotes. The book explores the origins of the stereotypes, and doesn't treat Asian as a homogenous whole - which a lot of research continues to do, instead the book explores a wide geographical area in detail.
I felt like Prasoo placed these womens' voices front and centre of the book, leading the narrative, rather than the author placing her views upon the text. The book touches on topics I have long thought about but wasn't sure how to articulate, and the book does this is an empathetic way.
Prasoo writes in a way that is very easy and enjoyable to read, and even though the book is 15 years old, these stereotypes continue to persist and are extremely damaging, so I would recommend it.
It dissects a wide range of stereotypes that are culturally held about Asian women and explores why brands continue to use 'the Asian mystique'. I felt like the book is seperated into two halves - the first section is data and interview driven, semiotic and historical analysis eg, the portrayal of Asian identity in Hollywood films, while the second section is full of more lengthy anecdotes. The book explores the origins of the stereotypes, and doesn't treat Asian as a homogenous whole - which a lot of research continues to do, instead the book explores a wide geographical area in detail.
I felt like Prasoo placed these womens' voices front and centre of the book, leading the narrative, rather than the author placing her views upon the text. The book touches on topics I have long thought about but wasn't sure how to articulate, and the book does this is an empathetic way.
Prasoo writes in a way that is very easy and enjoyable to read, and even though the book is 15 years old, these stereotypes continue to persist and are extremely damaging, so I would recommend it.
October 5, 2010
The Asian Mystique: Dragon Ladies, Geisha Girls, and Our Fantasies of the Exotic Orient is a nuanced but somewhat jumbled work examining how Westerners view Asia. Sheridan Prasso, a journalist once based in Asia, contends that the West, through a distorted lens, sees the Orient as a weaker but exotic, sensual and decadent place. The first part of the book is a heavily researched investigation into how that lens was constructed. She documents the first East-West interactions and how they became the basis of continually reinforced prejudices. She also devotes separate chapters to how Hollywood portrays Asian women and men from early 20th century until today.
The second part of the book, "Ten People, Ten Colors," consists of first-hand research involving talking to and following around Asian women. Prasso visits a geisha--the one who inspired Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha but ultimately suing him for misrepresentation--as well as prostitutes, female politicians, Cathay stewardesses, among others in Southeast and East Asia. Here the text is more about the condition of women in Asia, and not the stereotypes thereof. The Indian subcontinent is not a focus of this work.
Ultimately, I think the author's message is that being consumers of an Asian Mystique is ultimately deleterious to Westerners, as well as Asians. However, some of this message is diluted since most of the book concerns itself with documenting its existence. The Asian Mystique does an admirable job of not showing this as an unidirectional imposition of stereotypes; Asians sometimes play into and perpetuate this facade too.
The second part of the book, "Ten People, Ten Colors," consists of first-hand research involving talking to and following around Asian women. Prasso visits a geisha--the one who inspired Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha but ultimately suing him for misrepresentation--as well as prostitutes, female politicians, Cathay stewardesses, among others in Southeast and East Asia. Here the text is more about the condition of women in Asia, and not the stereotypes thereof. The Indian subcontinent is not a focus of this work.
Ultimately, I think the author's message is that being consumers of an Asian Mystique is ultimately deleterious to Westerners, as well as Asians. However, some of this message is diluted since most of the book concerns itself with documenting its existence. The Asian Mystique does an admirable job of not showing this as an unidirectional imposition of stereotypes; Asians sometimes play into and perpetuate this facade too.
November 4, 2016
I recall this being one of the very few books in college that my classmates were required to read and truly enjoyed. It was the topic of conversation of many a late night in the dormitories due to its controversial subject matter, based on the myriad misconceptions of Asian females. As one myself, I was asked many questions as to the veracity of the stereotypes including submissiveness, femininity, introversion, and many more.
Since living abroad in Asia for three years as an American-born Chinese, I have experienced firsthand much of the stereotyping and blatant racism as evidenced by the author's research ie. being approached at nightclubs with singsong-y Asian pickup lines and "remasculating" individuals who moved to the East because of their attraction to Oriental women, or as we call it, "yellow fever". It's sad to say that not much has progressed in the past nine years since the book has been published. If anything, the rise of China's economy and eastward movement for job opportunities has calcified many of these stereotypes. As many other readers stated, the author does a wonderful job incorporating anecdotal evidence, a skill from her many years as a journalist. I would love an updated version in the next decade delineating the rise of the Asian-American female in the States and abroad.
This book was compelling whilst in college, but it became indelible once I actually moved to the land where the stereotyping and subject matter began. I will reread it soon.
Since living abroad in Asia for three years as an American-born Chinese, I have experienced firsthand much of the stereotyping and blatant racism as evidenced by the author's research ie. being approached at nightclubs with singsong-y Asian pickup lines and "remasculating" individuals who moved to the East because of their attraction to Oriental women, or as we call it, "yellow fever". It's sad to say that not much has progressed in the past nine years since the book has been published. If anything, the rise of China's economy and eastward movement for job opportunities has calcified many of these stereotypes. As many other readers stated, the author does a wonderful job incorporating anecdotal evidence, a skill from her many years as a journalist. I would love an updated version in the next decade delineating the rise of the Asian-American female in the States and abroad.
This book was compelling whilst in college, but it became indelible once I actually moved to the land where the stereotyping and subject matter began. I will reread it soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2009
Started out so strong that I felt like I was back in grad-level Asian-American studies or reading engaging course packet material from said classes. However, the book quickly lost its focus after the film section and turned into a diary of impressions about being in Asian bars and observing the unfolding repetitions.
March 2, 2011
This is a bit of a cheat, but I'm going to link to a really thorough review by an Amazon user who hit almost all my criticisms and praises of the book, here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RSGFMY8Z...
April 12, 2013
Very detailed and well-written. It's basically about East-West cultural differences and sometimes there's TMI. All in all it's a Goodread.
August 26, 2021
As an AAPI woman, this book gave me a headache two pages in. I can’t.
May 3, 2025
This book had been sitting on the shelf untouched for almost two years. I received it in a surprise bundle from Vignette Books (a very cool company that sends used books based on chosen edits, highly recommend!!).
Anyway, I finally decided to pick it up after reading Greek Lessons by Han Kang. I’ve noticed a trend over the past couple years that most of my favorite books I’ve read are by Asian authors. Whether it’s Crying in H Mart, Pachinko, The Joy Luck Club, Greek Lessons or my current read What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Asian authors seem to have such a uniquely beautiful perspective on love and pain, spirituality, family, and life as a whole. I find Asian cultures to be so fascinating, beautiful, and strong so I thought it might be time to pull this book off the shelf and dive into East-West relations and the idea of the Asian Mystique.
I found the first half of this book to be the most interesting in understanding East-West relations, the impact of stereotypes, and confronting those misconceptions with truth. The author, Sheridan Prasso, did a good job of detailing the Asian Mystique with research that did not feel too demanding or heavy to be an unsatisfying read. I was surprised to reach the second part of the book and find that it consisted solely of stories and first hand experiences of the author with women across a variety of Asian cultures. Although I liked this part, I believe the first part of the book was cut short and the second half too long. Overall though I really enjoyed this book and found it to be very interesting as well as informative. This book was published in 2006 and I would love to read an even more up to date version that includes research and examples from the last 20 years.
My favorite quote or maybe just the one I resonated with most is from the last chapter called Power Women. Prasso is interviewing Anson Chan, once Hong Kong’s highest ranking woman from 1993 to 2001 when she resigned from her government position. Prasso asks Chan about her public image and she says, “I remember one of the descriptions that was used in a rather derogatory sense against me was that I was too emotional, whatever that means. I don’t think I was too emotional. If by emotional you mean I feel passionately about certain things and I’ll speak out, then, yes, I am emotional. I think that is a very good quality to have… to achieve equality you don’t have to give up your femininity” (pg 377).
Anyway, I finally decided to pick it up after reading Greek Lessons by Han Kang. I’ve noticed a trend over the past couple years that most of my favorite books I’ve read are by Asian authors. Whether it’s Crying in H Mart, Pachinko, The Joy Luck Club, Greek Lessons or my current read What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Asian authors seem to have such a uniquely beautiful perspective on love and pain, spirituality, family, and life as a whole. I find Asian cultures to be so fascinating, beautiful, and strong so I thought it might be time to pull this book off the shelf and dive into East-West relations and the idea of the Asian Mystique.
I found the first half of this book to be the most interesting in understanding East-West relations, the impact of stereotypes, and confronting those misconceptions with truth. The author, Sheridan Prasso, did a good job of detailing the Asian Mystique with research that did not feel too demanding or heavy to be an unsatisfying read. I was surprised to reach the second part of the book and find that it consisted solely of stories and first hand experiences of the author with women across a variety of Asian cultures. Although I liked this part, I believe the first part of the book was cut short and the second half too long. Overall though I really enjoyed this book and found it to be very interesting as well as informative. This book was published in 2006 and I would love to read an even more up to date version that includes research and examples from the last 20 years.
My favorite quote or maybe just the one I resonated with most is from the last chapter called Power Women. Prasso is interviewing Anson Chan, once Hong Kong’s highest ranking woman from 1993 to 2001 when she resigned from her government position. Prasso asks Chan about her public image and she says, “I remember one of the descriptions that was used in a rather derogatory sense against me was that I was too emotional, whatever that means. I don’t think I was too emotional. If by emotional you mean I feel passionately about certain things and I’ll speak out, then, yes, I am emotional. I think that is a very good quality to have… to achieve equality you don’t have to give up your femininity” (pg 377).
February 6, 2023
I’m so torn…This is a book I’d give 5 tars… or, 2. It’s a five because it triggered a lot of thoughts, confirmed my love of social science/anthropology as I read through the almost 400 pages in a few hours; I could not put the book down even when I knew my homework was due in a few hours and I really needed to stop. It’s a two or even a one because the second part was somewhat filled with prejudice and painful to read for an Asian reader like myself. Guess it made a dent in me.
September 6, 2017
Very good.
July 20, 2018
You can read my full review of "The Asian Mystique" at: https://thosesentences.wordpress.com/...
November 27, 2024
Good book and analysis
March 19, 2011
Some reviewer here or on Amazon.com said this book reads more like a college textbook or required reading for a college course, and I agree. Parts of this book were fascinating--the historical developments, how imperialism and colonialism play an influence, anecdotal stories of women at the very bottom of the ladder to the top political positions.
Yet there isn't much analysis and the book is often choppy. Some of the stories were incredibly fascinating and heartbreaking to read. Others were interesting, but a lot just dragged. I expected to read more about women in political positions, but it's rather feels like a tacked-on end chapter.
The author doesn't provide much by way of commentary, such as whether these women truly choose to sell their bodies or whether they think so because they do not have opportunities that women in Europe and the West do, in terms of social and economic mobility as well as education. I expected her to perhaps at least talk a bit about exploitation and human trafficking, but there isn't much in there.
That said, it was still a very interesting read, and does reveal some of the flip sides. While often the sex trade can be depicted as exploitative and degrading of women, some times there are women who take advantage of their supposed exoticism to Western men and do try to get a marriage, immigration papers, etc. Which certainly does not justify sex trafficking, rapes on military bases, etc., but it shows there is sometimes another side to the story.
Yet there isn't much analysis and the book is often choppy. Some of the stories were incredibly fascinating and heartbreaking to read. Others were interesting, but a lot just dragged. I expected to read more about women in political positions, but it's rather feels like a tacked-on end chapter.
The author doesn't provide much by way of commentary, such as whether these women truly choose to sell their bodies or whether they think so because they do not have opportunities that women in Europe and the West do, in terms of social and economic mobility as well as education. I expected her to perhaps at least talk a bit about exploitation and human trafficking, but there isn't much in there.
That said, it was still a very interesting read, and does reveal some of the flip sides. While often the sex trade can be depicted as exploitative and degrading of women, some times there are women who take advantage of their supposed exoticism to Western men and do try to get a marriage, immigration papers, etc. Which certainly does not justify sex trafficking, rapes on military bases, etc., but it shows there is sometimes another side to the story.
December 22, 2007
As a first generation Chinese raised in Hawai`i, I undoubtly find this book to be a solid establishment of recognizing the endless stereotypes of Asian women in and out of America. I do agree with most people that the second half was better than the long-winded first, considering that it almost seemed like a history book rather than a critical analysis. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her different "case studies".
However, the problem is this book is only best-suited for those that aren't concious of the horrible stereotypes of Asians...those that know nothing of distinction and political correctness when viewing Asians. This book seems more so of a college requirement-read because the problem is that she states all these problems that different types of Asians have to go through in and out of America but she leaves no pragmatic conclusions on what people are suppose to do about it! To those that have always known about the West's negative perpetual stereotypes of the East, the book may not present anything that you didn't already know.
I do know that there are a lot of cases of "yellow fever" syndrome or negative visions that are always paired when people think of Asians...but I think there's more depth to this problem than the cases and examples that she has stated in her book.
However, the problem is this book is only best-suited for those that aren't concious of the horrible stereotypes of Asians...those that know nothing of distinction and political correctness when viewing Asians. This book seems more so of a college requirement-read because the problem is that she states all these problems that different types of Asians have to go through in and out of America but she leaves no pragmatic conclusions on what people are suppose to do about it! To those that have always known about the West's negative perpetual stereotypes of the East, the book may not present anything that you didn't already know.
I do know that there are a lot of cases of "yellow fever" syndrome or negative visions that are always paired when people think of Asians...but I think there's more depth to this problem than the cases and examples that she has stated in her book.
July 16, 2013
The idea behind the book was intriguing; that of a culture lost within an image assigned to it by other cultures. It is easy to tell that the writer is a journalist, though, because the book reads like a collection of magazine articles with loosely related themes. It isn't that the points made aren't valid. It's that they jump all over the place without a sole conclusion to support the reading.
The premise drifts from an exploration of men with "yellow fever," a romantic ideal of Asian women that does not allow them to be actualized human beings. From there, it goes into the sex trade, and from that into an exploration of women in power. A concluding chapter discusses how companies are selling an image of the mysterious Orient that is far removed from reality. However, buyers don't want the reality; they want the fantasy image.
Most of these stories are interesting reading although some do become repetitious. The problem comes when trying to determine the writer's point, and then coming to the conclusion that this book is a collection of points.
The book is a valuable reminder that there are real people behind the images we create, and that real people will usually be very different from the fantasies.
The premise drifts from an exploration of men with "yellow fever," a romantic ideal of Asian women that does not allow them to be actualized human beings. From there, it goes into the sex trade, and from that into an exploration of women in power. A concluding chapter discusses how companies are selling an image of the mysterious Orient that is far removed from reality. However, buyers don't want the reality; they want the fantasy image.
Most of these stories are interesting reading although some do become repetitious. The problem comes when trying to determine the writer's point, and then coming to the conclusion that this book is a collection of points.
The book is a valuable reminder that there are real people behind the images we create, and that real people will usually be very different from the fantasies.
Read
November 29, 2015This book was a very accessible, albeit cursory guide to the roots and outcomes of orientalism in the west. I would recommend reading it before reading Edward Said as it is more broad in scope. A criticism that seems to be popping up in the reviews about this book is its heavy reliance on anecdotal testimony in the latter half of the book. While this can seem heavy handed, and often inappropriately stylized it made the work more relatable. Further I think it's very important to have a platform for showcasing the lived experience of women in general and especially that of non white, non western women. Overall while non one work can realistically succeed in capturing the complexity of race, gender and colonialism in Asia, I think this book is a great starting point for anyone interested in further reading on the subject.
January 30, 2013
A discussion of the image of Asian women in the West. Prasso covers a wide variety of topics and areas, and has some interesting insights. However, by a sheer fluke, I happened to have just watched a movie she mentioned in passing as an example ("You Only Live Twice") and her description of the plot was so incorrect it was startling. After that, no matter what she reported on, I couldn't help but wonder how accurate it was. It's a complex subject, and Prasso tackles it with determination, but I was left unconvinced that this captured the complexity well.
February 16, 2008
The Asian Mystique provides an overview about perceptions of Asia, especially Asian women. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything new here. If you want an accessible, general study and/or approaching the book with limited knowledge on the subject, then this is a good place to start. However, if you're looking for in-depth, scholarly material, look elsewhere.
December 30, 2014
Very interesting if not somewhat insulting at times.
Also a great book to find out the numeruos sex-capades of the world and also to find the prostitutes of the world.
But pretty insulting to asians and the rest of the world.
What especially got me was the "fleshy face" and "stout body" of Thao...yeaaaaa only to an idiot
Also a great book to find out the numeruos sex-capades of the world and also to find the prostitutes of the world.
But pretty insulting to asians and the rest of the world.
What especially got me was the "fleshy face" and "stout body" of Thao...yeaaaaa only to an idiot
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