In this article, Asian Americans are one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in America, yet they also face discrimination, harassment and racism, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic. One form of targeting used against them includes derogatory slurs that aim to insult, humiliate or dehumanize someone based on race, ethnicity culture or appearance – often reflecting stereotypes, prejudice and ignorance some people hold towards Asians or Asian Americans.
We will examine some common Asian slurs including their meaning, origins and impacts to determine how we can best tackle them and their impact upon society at large. In this article we will also investigate some common Asian slurs along with ways they impact us and how best combat them against any future incidents arising.
Banana
Banana (pronounced bananana) is an edible fruit with yellow peel and white flesh, used as an insult by other Asians or Asian Americans to refer to people perceived to have adopted values, behaviors, attitudes of dominant white culture while rejecting or hiding their Asian identity and heritage. Critics use “banana” to criticize someone considered too Westernized or whitewashed. Furthermore, other Asians or Asian Americans might use this slur against someone seen as too assimilate or whitewashed for being self-hating or disloyal to their community or just disloyal by others using such words slanderous terms against whom this slur is often directed by themselves or another community member against whom this person can even act out their community members by abandonment or traitorously abandonment towards each other community members who don’t respect.
Banana is similar to other racial epithets that use fruits or foods as metaphors to describe people of color who appear white; for instance, coconut (brown on the outside and white inside), oreo (black with white inner core) and apple (red outside with white inner core) all serve this function. These terms rely on the assumption that there is an accepted and authentic way of being part of any given race or ethnicity, and anyone deviating from that norm is acting against themselves and betraying their group. But this assumption can be problematic; it ignores the diversity and complexity of people’s identities, experiences, and choices; it also perpetuates an idea that whiteness should be treated as the standard against which all other ethnicities should measure themselves or conform.
The term banana can be damaging and harmful, as it can make people feel isolated, rejected and ashamed of who they are. Furthermore, it may create feelings of pressure, guilt or confusion for individuals as they feel compelled to choose between identities or cultures or that neither one fits them well enough or authentic enough. Furthermore, banana can undermine someone’s sense of belonging, acceptance and respect as it implies they don’t belong or don’t deserve being part of their community; further undermining their sense of being authentic enough or worthy enough of inheriting their heritage.
Twinkie
Twinkie is an Asian snack cake with golden sponge cake and creamy filling, commonly used to describe those perceived to be “yellow on the outside and white on the inside”. This term often used by non-Asians to refer to people perceived as too Americanized, assimilated or integrated; or who are trying too hard to fit in or please dominant white society by imitating Western lifestyles despite identifying as Asian. Non-Asian often use twinkie as a term of derision or mockery against such individuals.
The term twinkie carries similar connotations as banana, suggesting someone is acting white while also lacking substance, quality, or originality. It stems from an outdated stereotype about Asians being submissive and conformist while having no voice of their own – however this portrayal ignores their diverse cultures, histories, perspectives and autonomy – it robs Asian people of their agency to express themselves freely while living life their way.
A twinkie label can be extremely hurtful and hurtful; it can make the person feel devalued, invalidated, and erased by others; furthermore it can create feelings of stigmatisation, isolation and resentment for that individual as they perceive that others judge, misunderstand or exclude them in some way. Furthermore, twinkie can damage self-esteem confidence or pride as it implies they don’t deserve their identity, culture and heritage as much.
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