(12).
She goes on to talk about female stereotypes in the early twentieth century where Asian females were divided into two categories: the China Doll, who was portrayed as submissive (as the West wanted to see Asia) and the Dragon Lady, who was powerful, evil, and threatening (as a representative of the Yellow Peril) (13). All of these characterizations stem from the anti-Asian sentiments felt by Americans during this time. Asians, especially the Chinese, were coming to America in large quantities and were cheap labor, taking away jobs from Americans. .
Other stereotypes take Asian culture and over exaggerate it. Many Asian cultures were considered feminine by the Europeans and Americans who learned about them. Dave Williams perceives that Asian men were portrayed in roles such as laundrymen and domestic servants, roles that most Americans considered feminine and domesticated (110). These portrayals in the media resulted in the spread of these stereotypes to a larger audience, people who knew nothing of Asian culture and might have never met an actual Asian before. Sheridan Prasso also sees this feminization of Asian men in how Americans described Asian leaders. Mao Zedong had a feminine quality in him embodied in a high pitched voice, long, sensitive womans hands and a feminine mouth (55). These portrayals took bits of Asian culture and dramatized them to create stereotypes that were then accepted by American audiences. These stereotypes were then brought to the stage in roles such as Ah Sin in the play by the same name. When looking at Ah Sin, Williams says, He is a laundryman by trade, and drums up business by greeting everyone he meets with You want washee-washee? To supplement his income, he later becomes Yorks servant, not only washing his laundry on comission but also assisting with other domestic duties (110). Ah Sin was seen by the audience as highly feminine, lacking the strength and dexterity of a man.
