ASIAN AMERICAN SEXUAL POLITICS: THE CONSTRUCTION OF RACE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY A Dissertation by ROSALIND SUE CHOU Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May 2010 Major Subject: Sociology ASIAN AMERICAN SEXUAL POLITICS: THE CONSTRUCTION OF RACE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY A Dissertation by ROSALIND SUE CHOU Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved by: Chair of Committee, Joe R. Feagin Committee Members, Wendy Leo Moore William A. McIntosh Marian Eide Head of Department, Mark Fossett May 2010 Major Subject: Sociology iii ABSTRACT Asian American Sexual Politics: The Construction of Race, Gender, and Sexuality. (May 2010) Rosalind Sue Chou, B.S., Florida State University; M.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Joe R. Feagin Why study Asian American sexual politics? There is a major lack of critical analysis of Asian Americans and their issues surrounding their place in the United States as racialized, gendered, and sexualized bodies. There are three key elements to my methodological approach for this project: standpoint epistemology, extended case method, and narrative analysis. In my research, fifty-five Asian American respondents detail how Asian American masculinity and femininity are constructed and how they operate in a racial hierarchy. These accounts will explicitly illuminate the gendered and sexualized racism faced by Asian Americans. The male respondents share experiences that highlight how “racial castration” occurs in the socialization of Asian American men. Asian American women are met with an exotification and Orientalization as sexual bodies. This gendering and sexualizing process plays a specific role in maintaining the racial status quo. There are short and long term consequences from the gendered and sexualized racist treatment. The intersected racial and gender identities of the respondents affect their self-image and self-esteem. For the women, femininity has been iv shaped specifically by their racial identity. “Orientalization” as a colonial concept plays a role in these racialized and gendered stereotypes of Asian American Women. The gendered and sexualized racialization process and “racial castration” has impacted Asian American men in a different way than their female counterparts. Violence is a prevalent theme in their gendered and racial formation. Asian American men begin as targets of violence and sometimes become perpetrators. I also analyze how romantic and sexual partners are chosen and examine the dynamics of Asian American intraracial and interracial relationships. While Asian American “success” as “model minorities” is challenging white supremacy, gender and sexuality become “regulating” forces to maintain both the racial and gendered order. Finally, I offer and discuss the resistance strategies against gender and racial hierarchy utilized by my respondents. Asian Americans must be creative in measures that they take for group and individual survival. Respondents resist in intimately personal ways against ideologies. v DEDICATION For Chuen Cheng and Li-Hsueh Chou. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation is almost seventy years in the making. My father, Chuen Cheng Chou, was born in 1942. His hope and dream was to come to the United States and earn his doctoral degree in chemistry. It was a much more difficult task then he expected. His dream unfulfilled, he hoped one of his daughters would finish the job. My parents and I never thought I would be the daughter with a doctoral degree. I was the athlete with little concern or care for my schoolwork. Through my parents’ perseverance and sacrifice, I eventually saw the value in continuing my education. I am so thankful for my two older sisters, Nina Sickler and Alice Chou. They have been incredible role models. I am a sociologist because of my wonderful high school history/sociology teacher John Dunn. He presents American history with a critical lens. My friends in high school kept me from feeling isolated in my small hometown in the Deep South – Joshua Adrian, Greg Wolfson, Michael Peluso, and Andrew Tirrell. The coaching and mentoring I received from Regina Dooley made me a true scholar athlete. Julie DeMar was the best college friend and roommate a person could ask for. My work at Camp E-Nini-Hasssee prepared me to return graduate school as a focused task-completing student. I am thankful for founder Jack Eckerd and the life lessons I received from Gale E. Wire and Jo Lynn Smith. My appreciation goes out to my friends who co-existed in the magical forest with me: Deb Long, Charlene Whitney, Lynn Player, Kirsen Rostad, Cherri Baker, Remi Davis Wingo, Maribeth Pierce, Stacy Breton, Kelly Theodore, Aleisha Kraft, and Kodi McCarson. vii I would not have returned to graduate school had it not been for Kristen Lavelle. She has been a great friend, teammate, and colleague. Additionally, I have had an incredible group of colleagues and friends throughout graduate school: Jennifer Mueller, Glenn Bracey, Lorena Murga, Elyshia Aseltine, Daniel Delgado, Jessica Anderson, Ruth Thompson-Miller, Christopher Chambers, and Michelle Christian. I have been blessed to receive instruction and mentoring from: Stuart Hysom, Michael Omi, Barbara Trepagnier, Jane Sell, Sarah Gatson, Ashley Currier, and Eduardo Bonilla-Silva. I like to pride myself on having a very balanced life dedicating a sizeable portion of my life to things outside of scholarship. I am indebted to my incredible network of friends: Stephanie “Kitty” Dorsey, Rachel “Krafty” Kraft, Kelly “Kay” Frazer, Meredith “Bags” Bagley, Marinda “BBQ” Reynolds, Tiffany “T-Hole” Hall and Rachel “Rocky” Suniga Osborn. Kitty has been an amazing friend and roommate during my time in Texas. I feel like I will always be welcome in the Dorsey family. I would have never survived without the camaraderie from my rugby clubs: Florida State University, University of Florida, The Austin Valkyries, and The Satiated Beavers. I would not have been able to have completed my degree in a timely manner had it not been for the funding I have received from: Texas A&M University, TAMU Sociology, Joe R. Feagin, The Melbern G. Glasscock Center for Humanities, Texas State University, The American Business Women’s Association, and The Philanthropic Educational Organization. viii I would like to especially thank my supportive advisory committee, Joe R. Feagin, Wendy Leo Moore, W. Alex McIntosh, and Marian Eide. I have grown as a scholar because of them. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION ...................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................... ix CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION: WHY ASIAN AMERICAN SEXUAL POLITICS? 1 Theoretical Perspectives on Race, Gender, and Sexuality............. 6 Methodology: Standpoint Epistemology, Extended Case Method, and Narrative Analysis................................................... 20 The Social Construction of Asian American Gender and Sexuality: 1800s – World War II.................................................. 24 The Social Construction of Asian American Gender and Sexuality: World War II – Present ............................................... 29 Overview..................................................................................... 33 Chapters ..................................................................................... 35 II CONSTRUCTING AND MARGINALIZING ASIAN AMERICANS ................................................................................... 43 Hegemonic Masculinity ............................................................... 47 Evidence of Socialization............................................................. 49 External Forces............................................................................ 68 Community.................................................................................. 85 Mainstream Media – Strongest Force in Creating a Gendered, Racist Frame................................................................................ 91 Conclusion .................................................................................. 93 III ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN: SELF-IMAGE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND IDENTITY............................................................................... 98 Introduction................................................................................. 98 Hegemonic Femininity?............................................................... 99 x CHAPTER Page Self-Image................................................................................... 103 Self-Esteem ................................................................................. 111 Exotification and Fetishism.......................................................... 116 Identity ....................................................................................... 120 Conclusion .................................................................................. 126 IV ASIAN AMERICAN MASCULINITY.............................................. 131 Identity .......................................................................................