--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Asian men are frequently emasculated in…" description: "\"“Asian men are frequently emasculated in the media, or presented as sexless props, for comedic relief. Oh, if only they could absorb the burden of blac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/issa-rae-11768_black-women_asian-men-are-frequently-emasculated-in_1732535.jpg" --- # Asian men are frequently emasculated in the media, or… ![“Asian men are frequently emasculated in the media, or presented as sexless props, for comedic relief. Oh, if only they could absorb the burden of black male stereotypes (genitalia exaggerations included), maybe their demand would increase. Maybe that would make all the difference. Instead, the…” quote by Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/issa-rae-11768_black-women_asian-men-are-frequently-emasculated-in_1732535.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/issa-rae-11768_black-women_asian-men-are-frequently-emasculated-in_1732535.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/issa-rae-11768_black-women_asian-men-are-frequently-emasculated-in_1732535.jpg) > ““Asian men are frequently emasculated in the media, or presented as sexless props, for comedic relief. Oh, if only they could absorb the burden of black male stereotypes (genitalia exaggerations included), maybe their demand would increase. Maybe that would make all the difference. Instead, the plight of Asian men is nearly the same as that of black women, except for the fact that their women tend to marry white or “other” far more often. In fact, Asian Americans have the highest rate of intermarriage. Asian men, your reputation sucks too. This”” [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Media often reduces Asian men to non‑sexual stereotypes, limiting their representation and reinforcing harmful gender expectations. **In simple terms:** Asian men are stereotyped as non‑sexual. Key Takeaway Challenge and broaden media portrayals. Themes media representation gender stereotypes Mood inquisitive empathetic Type cultural critical When to use this quote - film casting - advertising - education curricula - community dialogues Key Concepts intersectionality masculinity racial dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can creators avoid reinforcing harmful tropes? - What impact does representation have on self‑esteem? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑rooted stereotypes requires systemic industry shifts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Asian Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian-americans/) [Asian Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian-men-1443971/) [Black Male](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-male/) [Black women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-women/) [Intermarriage Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intermarriage-asian-1443972/) [Plight Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plight-asian-1443973/) ## Related quotes > [ The inspiration for this movie \[Something New\] was this Newsweek article that came out a couple of years ago that talks about 42.4 percent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/the-inspiration-for-this-movie-something-new-was-this-newsweek/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [If Black women stand strong and our commitment is to ending domination I know that I'm supporting Black males, Black children male and female…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/if-black-women-stand-strong-and-our-commitment-is-to-ending/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You don't really see Asian men together very often. It's very rare in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/you-don-t-really-see-asian-men-together-very-often-it-s-very-rare-in/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [Bruce Lee was the first guy to bring film recognition of Asian men not being wimps, so it made me want to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/bruce-lee-was-the-first-guy-to-bring-film-recognition-of-asian-men/) [Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/) > [“Asian men could be socially inept and incompetent and ridiculous, like a Long Duk Dong, or at best unthreatening and slightly buffoonish, like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/asian-men-could-be-socially-inept-and-incompetent-and-ridiculous-like/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [Television and movies were our biggest teachers. When we came to the United States, the Vietnam War was just ratcheting up. And so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/television-and-movies-were-our-biggest-teachers-when-we-came-to-the/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [Asian men are the sexiest. They got no body hair from the neck down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/asian-men-are-the-sexiest-they-got-no-body-hair-from-the-neck-down/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [Asian men are sexy, confident, and passionate - and three-dimensional. We want the opportunity to portray roles that reflect who we are in real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/asian-men-are-sexy-confident-and-passionate-and-three-dimensional-we/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [On my adventurers into the porn world, I noticed there's one thing that doesn't exist. Asian men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ellis/on-my-adventurers-into-the-porn-world-i-noticed-there-s-one-thing/) [Daniel Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ellis/) > [Asian men specifically have not been portrayed as the leading man or sex symbol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simu-liu/asian-men-specifically-have-not-been-portrayed-as-the-leading-man-or/) [Simu Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simu-liu/) > [I really dislike the fact that Asian males are constantly emasculated, whether it's American TV or films. You see it all the time, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-wu/i-really-dislike-the-fact-that-asian-males-are-constantly-emasculated/) [Daniel Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-wu/) > [Living in the West, you see how there's only two versions of how Asian men are supposed to be. Either they're very nice, yuppie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/living-in-the-west-you-see-how-there-s-only-two-versions-of-how-asian/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [I think Asian men are beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-think-asian-men-are-beautiful/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [Asian American men, Asian men have been basically eunuchs in American cinema and television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/asian-american-men-asian-men-have-been-basically-eunuchs-in-american/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [The black characters on TV are the sidekicks, or they're insignificant. You could put all the black sidekicks on one show, and it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/the-black-characters-on-tv-are-the-sidekicks-or-they-re-insignificant/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) ## More by Issa Rae > [It's a bit cliche, but you can't go wrong by writing what you know. Even if you're a horrible writer, your own knowledge and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/it-s-a-bit-cliche-but-you-can-t-go-wrong-by-writing-what-you-know/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [“I needed to see more from my movies than the extremely tragic black woman, or the magic helpless Negro, or the many black men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-needed-to-see-more-from-my-movies-than-the-extremely-tragic-black/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm transitioning to television and film, but ultimately, I want to have a stronger presence on the web and be able to curate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-transitioning-to-television-and-film-but-ultimately-i-want-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I really want to be the black Tina Fey, where I just am able to produce my own content and produce other content for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-really-want-to-be-the-black-tina-fey-where-i-just-am-able-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [The black characters on TV are the sidekicks, or they're insignificant. You could put all the black sidekicks on one show, and it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/the-black-characters-on-tv-are-the-sidekicks-or-they-re-insignificant/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [You know, you have a lot of people - I've met a lot of people in the past, I've gone to private schools, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/you-know-you-have-a-lot-of-people-i-ve-met-a-lot-of-people-in-the/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [There's so many, 'no, black people aren't like that' barriers in mainstream media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-like-that-barriers-in/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I personally don't feel any pressure to make jokes about multiple baby-fathers and stereotypical black jokes, because one, that's just not my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-personally-don-t-feel-any-pressure-to-make-jokes-about-multiple/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm a social media addict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-a-social-media-addict/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Especially being a woman of color, sometimes it's hard for to put our foot down. You work with a lot of men, and they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/especially-being-a-woman-of-color-sometimes-it-s-hard-for-to-put-our/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm always tempted to say, 'Nah, that won't work.' But I think you should be willing to try ideas out before saying no. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t-work-but-i-think-you-should/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Every black film feels like it's Tyler Perry, and that just needs to stop. But people seem to slowly be looking for what else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/every-black-film-feels-like-it-s-tyler-perry-and-that-just-needs-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [“When I was a teenager, for example, others questioned my blackness because some of the life choices I made weren’t considered to be “black”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/when-i-was-a-teenager-for-example-others-questioned-my-blackness/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Sometimes if I'm stuck on something, I'll have a drink, and it'll get me inspired and ready to keep going. But the trick to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/sometimes-if-i-m-stuck-on-something-i-ll-have-a-drink-and-it-ll-get/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [“In high school, I developed a new love: acting. I went to a predominantly black and Latino school in Compton and, outside of television,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/in-high-school-i-developed-a-new-love-acting-i-went-to-a/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) [Explore all 58 Issa Rae quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) ## More Asian quotes > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [When you are in America, at least for me, as an immigrant, I try to be as Americanized as I could. I just want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/when-you-are-in-america-at-least-for-me-as-an-immigrant-i-try-to-be/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I always tell Asian actors, especially Filipinos wanting to break into Hollywood, to study, study and study and show their best. I haven't stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lee/i-always-tell-asian-actors-especially-filipinos-wanting-to-break-into/) [Reggie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lee/) > [The narrative needs to change. Asian-American actresses don't want to be the damsels in distress anymore. We don't want to be saved, especially by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-chung/the-narrative-needs-to-change-asian-american-actresses-don-t-want-to/) [Jamie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-chung/) > [It's always fun to see faces that are either familiar or resemble yours. I was fascinated by movies like 'Big Trouble in Little China'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-chin-han/it-s-always-fun-to-see-faces-that-are-either-familiar-or-resemble/) [Ng Chin Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-chin-han/) > [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [I think Li Na and some other Chinese ladies have done so many amazing things for Asian tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/i-think-li-na-and-some-other-chinese-ladies-have-done-so-many-amazing/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [I don't want to have people brought in simply because they are black or Asian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-phillips/i-don-t-want-to-have-people-brought-in-simply-because-they-are-black/) [Trevor Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-phillips/) > [We grew up in rural Arkansas without any Koreans close by, and when I go to Korea feel out of place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/we-grew-up-in-rural-arkansas-without-any-koreans-close-by-and-when-i/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [I've been lucky to come up when there's such a huge explosion of women, and especially Asian women, in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/i-ve-been-lucky-to-come-up-when-there-s-such-a-huge-explosion-of/) [Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/) > [I knew I was half Chinese, but Iceland is so homogenous that I wasn't able to identify with the Asian part of myself. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/i-knew-i-was-half-chinese-but-iceland-is-so-homogenous-that-i-wasn-t/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) [Browse all 1,157 Asian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Asian men are frequently emasculated in the media, or presented as sexless props, for comedic relief. Oh, if only they could absorb the burden of black male stereotypes (genitalia exaggerations included), maybe their demand would increase. Maybe that would make all the difference. Instead, the plight of Asian men is nearly the same as that of black women, except for the fact that their women tend to marry white or “other” far more often. In fact, Asian Americans have the highest rate of intermarriage. Asian men, your reputation sucks too. 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