Another Shade: Asian American Self Perceptions Beyond B & W

[iDEB9]

It's amazing to see that African and Asian Americans share some of the same struggles when it comes to society's standard of beauty. Thank you for this video.

Blue Scholars :)

[671kmn]

Asian women are hot.Asian male have small penis.

[KhMErTRiAd]

Wow, what a powerful video.

Man, when The Ave from Blue Scholars started playing I was like "what? how did my computer open that song file?" I was amazed to find that song in the video.

[guitarhamster102]

Try being an Asian American MALE

[JukBxLuvSong]

Well done! Great short doc. There is definitely a common thread between all non whites and how media influences us to feel about ourselves. I've always been interested in how euro centric ideals for aesthetics play adversely on non white groups other than black. It's painful to see how the results of a test with dolls can be the same as it was almost 60 years ago. I only hope that my children will be the glimmer of hope like the last two girl. Loving the images that looked most like themselves

[pandpinjapan]

I hate to break it to you, Holmes, but you're not Asian-American.

[excelanoproject]

@pandpinjapan not sure what you mean by that

[arcee0712]

Wow. Thanks for doing this video. Sometimes we get caught up in the Black/white conversation due to it being so volatile, other women of color suffer the same consequences of living in a white washed mainstream culture. Having said that, however, as a black woman we still have other negative stereotypes to overcome such as being regarded as loud, ugly, greedy, uneducated and unfeminine. Which is an obstacle that Asian women fortunately do not face.

[Camb250]

I want to have Asian children. I think they are so cute. I love the eyes!

[evilmickey100]

that sad

[envymeforgood]

not that it matters im just saying asians see the wrong idea of beauty!

[envymeforgood]

ummmmm Caucasian Latino uhhhh they are not only ones with big eyes lol so are African american and Indians from india and middle eastern people also have wide eyes!

[ARepublicanVictory]

@envymeforgood The term African American is misleading. Blacks born in America are not African. The Africans from Africa are. How about the term " American?"

[sheliene12]

I know this is a old video but the little girl at 8:37 made me want to cry. She said "Because it looks like our people eyes" Made me say Aawwwww!!! There was the same study that was done with African-American Children. It was the same thing with more of the children picking the white doll over the black doll.

[PUFFYsaidgo]

@sheliene12 I think she said "real people eyes." But, yes, she was smart! Yep, this video was inspired by those black and white doll tests, as stated in the video before the kids talked and in the video description box.

[CheezInspector]

And you gotta love that last one's response. How she likes her hair because "that white girl's shit can be nasty". Wow. Not really. And not all Asians have straight hair. Ignorance.

[CheezInspector]

Asians should just except who they are. Sorry but Asians with blond hair look bizarre. Just reminds me of someone dying to be White but obviously isn't. Sad. And the people who think they have big eyes in this vid don't. And it isn't just the eyes. A lot of Asians have big pug noses and brown skin so I don't get why they even try to look European. They never will. It's just really sad to watch them try.

[pong224]

I wonder what would happen if the same test was conducted to the children of countries in asia, such as, Korea, Japan, Phillipines, Vietnam etc.

[edpovey]

but anyway, asian girls are beautiful. i was just making the point that many girls dye their hair.

[edpovey]

first point she makes about hair coloring - all girls tend to highlight and lighten their hair. most white girls go blonde or at least lighter. doesn't make it a race thing.

[marx369]

the beautifull asian girl think they are hot so they act like a Whore, look at Charmane star

[HaPiE123]

This video is amazing and should be seen by more Asian Americans. The doll experiment made me cringe a little until the end it made me smile, especially when that little girl mentioned about real people eyes. It sends an obvious yet powerful message: you are who you are, be proud and true to yourself.

[ikuj28]

It pisses me off when people say asians wish they were caucasion. it has more to do with class than european history. If you study history people and woman specifically were considered more desirable that one with darker skin. In Japan it has been going on long before the Europeans visited the country or before they even knew how caucasians look like..

[7dontyouknow7]

A simple but important question is "Why is that?" Some aspects of East Indian culture display these traits as well. What is backwards about it in terms of East Indians is that India isn't exactly a cold place, but for people who produce melanin, its harder to stay pale than with color, especially in warmer climates. Where and when did this sort of perception in reference to melanin begin is another really good question.

[ikuj28]

Im not sure if people might notice but I think it may have to do more with the oriental features. Looking at it from an artistic standpoint of view, most asians have dark and bold contrasting features. By having lighter skin it allows you to bring out those features more & make them stand out.

[7dontyouknow7]

BUT, the psychological implications and effects still generally leave asians (and other people of color) with the perception that "lighter is better" subconsciously/consciously, which is out of scientific context in modern days. When was this distortion taken out of context is a good question. The scenes of the doll test shows how this distortion is internalized, to the point that a lot of people feel that they are not attractive as they are.

[ikuj28]

Yeah, thats true I agree with you. But this is refering to asian culture in general not blacks or hispanics or caucasians etc. So its not really saying that a race with lighter skin is considered more beautiful that one with compared to darker skin. I don't really know how to put it but I studied color theory and learned how colors can affect the way people feel and percieve when they see of things. I know that defidently has something to do with it.

[7dontyouknow7]

It just brings a lot of additional questions up. What is not saying a people (I don't use the word "race") with less melanin is more attractive than a people with more melanin?

The study does suggest this, but maybe you could share more about what you know in reference to the origins of this perception before it was distorted into its modern day view. Personally I like to view things from a even broader range than one culture to compare how it affects similarly or differently.

[jbiona25]

i favourited this video. i hope that helps. i would also encourage any of friends who would like to do the same. however, i suggest that you should add some key search words in this video such as; "perception" "asian perception" "asian image" "image" "asian mentality" and such.. to expand its possibilities of being viewed.

[jbiona25]

that gave me a sad feeling. seeing young girls/boys decide on which doll was beautiful. sadly, some young ones tend to describe and realise the truth unlike our older counter parts who have been totally brainwashed. for that i cannot blame them though. please keep advocating asian strength, knowledge and wisdoms to save our image.

[ixjchingxi]

Thank you for your comments! It is always a good feeling to hear words of encouragement. We, as advocates, definitely need to support on another.

[7dontyouknow7]

I loved the comment at 8:37. Dominant (real) genetic traits are beautiful. Black colored hair has always been attractive, because it has the highest reflective gloss. Skin with melanin in it, be it yellow, brown to dark chocolate has the most alluring glow to it, yet not having these traits are "beautiful"? What is wrong that that picture of perception? People that don't have them find them attractive, but they aren't going to openly admit that most of the time; misery loves company. Love self.

[ixjchingxi]

Thank you for your comments! They really mean a lot to me. Please, share this video with as many people as you can, even if it means nothing to them, maybe it will speak to someone

[7dontyouknow7]

I appreciate seeing stuff on Youtube that shows that somebody is thinking and seeking knowledge of self. A lot of people get stuck in this force fed perversion of "black and white" and that is it, this is not so. It is really about melanin or no melanin, and melanin does come in such variations of yellow, red, brown, and black. A lot of people of color suffer from not knowing themselves, no true knowledge of self. (continued)

[7dontyouknow7]

I want to see more asian brothers and sisters start looking inside themselves to rediscover the truest part themselves again. Upon successfully doing so, I want to see more asians feel comfortable enought with themselves that they don't force themselves to completely assimilate to fit into a false perception of "americaness". I want to see more asians with enough true knowledge of self to say "this is the true me, if you cannot accept it, you cannot accept me." (continued)

[7dontyouknow7]

If one does not know WHOM one comes from (past) in origin, how can one ever know where one is to go (future)?

I want to see more asians and people of color use their faculties of intuition and deduction more often.

"To live your life in discord with your true nature limits your external existence; one will never find peace or happiness with oneself."

[7dontyouknow7]

I am happy to come across this documentary. I think what is shared amongst people of color in America is how many of us suffer from outside sources feeding us BS of what our self-perception is or should be in terms of beauty, and the doll study illustrates how we are fed this. I think was is different in the Asian community is that "whiteness" is seen as "americaness" and not fitting into that cookie-cutter (assimilation or otherwise) mold doesn't qualify one's "americaness".

[tempusfugit68]

If your self esteem is depended upon the structure of your eyes then you have more serious issues.

[TJDash]

Very interesting doco. Good work ":) Sad thing is asians perpetuate the larger eyes being nicer etc.. I love chinky eyes and so do my mates from all race backgrounds. I personally love black hair and asian features.. everyone has different pref on looks so if everyone assimilates, who is it for? I LOVE CHINKY EYES! BE PROUD! BE ASIAN!