tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post2653741163013564485..comments2024-03-04T10:20:10.154+00:00Comments on Anna Chen: Madam Miaow Says: When is a dress just a dress? American teenager's Chinese prom dress and cultural appropriationMadam Miaowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237951918529887305noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-31272627624553705482018-05-11T11:54:25.859+01:002018-05-11T11:54:25.859+01:00Dear Stella, thanks for your comment. Please note ...Dear Stella, thanks for your comment. Please note that I don't write the headline or standfirst, so can we engage regarding the points I make in the article. <br /><br />My perspective is from being part of the Chinese diaspora in the West, not an American, so I apologise if the headlines made it sound that way. Chinese Americans and Brits have linked arms in recent times over matters such as the yellowface <a href="http://madammiaow.blogspot.co.uk/p/rsc-orphan-of-zhao.html" rel="nofollow">Orphan of Zhao controversy</a> in the UK and the <a href="http://madammiaow.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-nightingale-la-jolla-playhouse.html" rel="nofollow">La Jolla Playhouse</a> in the US.<br /><br />In Northern Ireland, the UK's first ethnic Chinese Brit politician, a brave woman named <a href="http://madammiaow.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/anna-lo-stays-in-job-fights-racism.html" rel="nofollow"> Anna Lo</a>, has defied the racist right to defend Romanians, Roma, Poles and other minorities under attack — she's one of my heroes. <br /><br />In Australia, Erin Chew, who tweets as ThisAsianWomanSays @echewy, has to fight off not only vicious white attacks, but also Chinese Aussies pressuring her to shuddup whenever she challenges the China-bashing narrative.<br /><br />We are all linked, we are all being targeted and we need to support each other.<br /><br />The frock was in one way a boon to us because it's put a robust debate in the spotlight. What emerged from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf54bmKg2ko" rel="nofollow">Journey to the West's "Qipaogate" video</a> once the red mist had begun to clear is the core problem of the way diaspora Chinese are still regarded as sub-human, denied an equal place in society. Here's what happened when a <a href="http://madammiaow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/swp-sex-implosion-its-dehumanisation-in.html" rel="nofollow">Chinese Brit tried to participate in UK politics</a>.<br /><br />And here's how the Blair government tried to blame UK Chinese for the devastating outbreak of <a href="http://madammiaow.blogspot.co.uk/p/foot-and-mouth-campaign.html" rel="nofollow">Foot and Mouth disease</a>, linking us with filth and pestilence in a way that would make Goebbels proud. <br /><br />The chief thing I wanted to do was put the link between the intensifying scapegoating of Chinese everywhere and Trump's anti-China (huh, anti <i>everyone</i>) actions in the public domain. I'm sick of challenging the <a href="http://madammiaow.blogspot.co.uk/p/yellow-peril-orientalism.html" rel="nofollow">mainstream China-bashing here</a> largely on my own or with a handful of fellow BEAs — we need a wake up call that the danger is real and upon us. That statement from the <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/fbi-directors-shock-claim-chinese-students-are-a-potential-threat" rel="nofollow">FBI attacking Chinese students</a> made my blood run cold and evoked memories of what happened to the Japanese in WWII. Far from trying to diminish the reality of cultural appropriation and what it means, I'm trying to focus our energy on what's coming down the pike.<br /><br />First impressions last, and the twitter thread with which I originally took issue, made it look like a pile-on onto a kid, muddying the waters as well as looking like bullying — ironic when it's us who get bullied — so the significance was missed. What I didn't do was throw him under a bus as some were hoping for, but pointed out that his instinct was understandabl. I also caught flak in the comments for insisting that cultural appropriation is a real, existing phenomenon with concrete consequences instead of deriding it. <br /><br />Here in Britain, we look at the US with some envy and a lot of admiration at how many east Asian faces you see. I mean, in <i>Marvel Agents of Shield</i>, you have not one but TWO Asian women starring in the series. And yet I know that the struggle continues. I'm sorry we disagree on some of the particulars but all I can say is, in the current climate, sister, I will endeavour to have your back.<br /><br /><br />Madam Miaowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237951918529887305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-4389608393016921882018-05-05T16:56:53.672+01:002018-05-05T16:56:53.672+01:00Anna -- you are free to express your opinions, but...Anna -- you are free to express your opinions, but as you are not Asian-American, it's not your job to be telling Asian-Americans how they should feel about this topic. Whatever experience you have being Asian-British is not relevant to the Asian-American experience here, in the US. For the same reason, the opinions of Asians who live in Asia are irrelevant; they have an entirely separate culture from Asians who live here. Asian Americans would never presume to speak for those who live in Asia.<br /><br />I don't think the girl acted with any malevolent intent; she's just a kid. But the questions and controversy that this stirred up are worth some serious examination. Mekita Rivas has written a very clear explanation of why a white girl wearing this dress and getting applauded for her fashion sense can cause pain for an Asian-american girl, who will get a very different response if she wears a qipao to her prom.<br /><br />https://www.teenvogue.com/story/teens-qipao-prom-dress-new-debate-cultural-appropriation?mbid=social_facebook_ta&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5aeb9eff04d3011dfe0e019b&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebookStella in NYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11484446782505073065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-86219355557987453172018-05-05T12:58:36.165+01:002018-05-05T12:58:36.165+01:00Good article. It concerns me a bit that culture ha...Good article. It concerns me a bit that culture has become a badge of belonging, like a flag. Culture is a gift you give to humankind. If it's worth anything, it should be anyone's.Colin Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13396257476926060530noreply@blogger.com