Orientalism
Orientalism is a term that describes a Eurocentric view that has historically portrayed Eastern societies as inferior and static compared to the progressive and rational Western cultures. Coined by Edward Said in his 1978 book, the concept critiques how Western narratives have constructed a distorted image of the East, often depicting its peoples as militaristic and despotic. This perspective has roots in the expansion of European capitalism and imperialism, which justified the colonization and oppression of Asian societies.
In addition to its historical context, Orientalism has implications for contemporary understanding of Asian identities, particularly in Western societies where cultural stereotypes prevail. Asian Americans often face misconceptions that they are culturally and physically interchangeable, leading to a lack of recognition of their diverse backgrounds. This oversimplification fosters cultural insensitivity and can even escalate into violence, as evidenced by tragic incidents where individuals were targeted due to mistaken identities. Overall, Orientalism emphasizes the need for a more nuanced understanding of Eastern cultures and the diverse identities within the Asian American community.
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Orientalism
According to Edward Said’s 1978 book, Orientalism, the term orientalism is a Eurocentric perspective that reflects the domination of the West (the Occident) over the East (the Orient) from the early expansion of capitalism and imperialism to the present. It is a racist construction of Eastern societies as stagnant, militaristic, irrational, and despotic in contrast to Western societies as progressive, civil, rational, and individualistic. By extension, this approach also portrays the peoples of Asia as intrinsically inferior to Europeans. Hence, Orientalism is an ideology that justifies the oppression and colonization of Asians in Asia and North America.
In the late eighteenth century, Orientalists studied Muslim societies and Islam in West Asia; Said’s study influenced Middle Eastern studies, with many scholars adopting postcolonial and anti-imperialist perspectives. Increasingly, Orientalism also refers to an overgeneralized and stereotypical way of thinking about all Asian Americans as physically and culturally identical. This misconception is common among White Americans and non-Asians. Chinese Americans and Vietnamese Americans are often mistaken for Japanese Americans, who may, in turn, be mistaken for Korean Americans. Sikhs may be mistaken for Muslims, and Indian Americans may be confused with Arab Americans. Non-Asian Americans, because of what they perceive as Asian Americans’ indistinguishable non-European appearance, frequently view Asian Americans as “foreigners” regardless of their nativity, generation, nationality, and citizenship status. The misconceived Asian cultural homogeneity breeds cultural insensitivity. Furthermore, the misconception of Asian similitude sometimes results in anti-Asian violence based on mistaken identities. In 1982, Chinese American Vincent Chin was mistaken for a Japanese individual and murdered in an act of hate. In 1989, Chinese American Jim Ming Hai Loo was murdered by people who thought he was Vietnamese.
Bibliography
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