New York Magazine reports here on ABC News Journalist Martin Bashir’s address to the Asian American Journalists Association in Chicago on July 25. Bashir told the audience, “I’m happy to be in the midst of so many Asian babes. In fact, I’m happy that the podium covers me from the waist down.” He also said a speech should be “like a dress on a beautiful woman : long enough to cover the important parts and short enough to keep your interest : like my colleague Juju’s,” referring to Juju Chang (below right), his Emmy award-winning colleague at ABC. Bashir (above left) has reportedly apologized to his hosts for his remarks.
Bloggers at Degrasian comment on Bashir’s gaffe here:
We’re ladies. And we’re genetically programmed to love compliments. We like it when you notice our hair, our clothes, our shoes, our skin, our bods, our earrings, our eye makeup, our cute moles, our weird cowlicks etc. and say really nice things about them. Nice respectfulthings (wolf-whistling, cat-calling, and yelling out your car window–need we say it even?–don’t count).
What also doesn’t count as a compliment is telling us that looking at us gives you a ragin’ boner. * * * Furthermore, we Asian ladies … are sick of being seen–even appreciated–en masse. We don’t want to be viewed only as a group. That makes us feel interchangeable and un-special. We want you to see my cute mole, her weird cowlick, and that chick-over-there’s uniquely fine ass. We want, basically, for people to tell us apart.
Sexism isn’t funny, but Big Bad Chinese Mama cleverly satires sexualized stereotypes of Asian and Asian American women here.
-Bridget Crawford
