'Positive' Stereotypes That Mixed Asians Love to Hear

Let's talk about positive stereotypes and how they can negatively impact the way people view you as a mixed Korean (or any ethnicity, for that matter.)

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The Halfie Project

00:00 - Intro
00:37 - What are Positive Stereotypes?
01:48 - Positive Stereotypes Denies Individuality
02:44 - Treatment Based Off Stereotypes
04:02 - Halfie Project Newsletter & Website
04:25 - Korean Adoptee & Stereotypes Examples
05:26 - Model Minority Myth
06:48 - Under the Stereotype Surface

[bhlasvegas]

I just found your channel. Top tier content that everyone should watch. I’m Korean American but basically feel like a halfie mentally so thank you so much. This channel deserves more subscribers

[luckyreads]

This is such an important video to be made. Thanks Becky! The negatives of positive stereotypes are all too real. I think it's particularly harmful because of how lightly people consider them, especially in everyday conversation. Thanks for highlighting why they can be so detrimental.

[endingalaporte]

Thanks for your work ! Love your project. It resonates with me !

[ncamara]

Great video. Also, sometimes when you challenge these views, some people are quick to project negative stereotypes. It just shows how shallow these stereotypical views are.

[chazsutherland]

Personally speaking, many people offering "compliments" are doing so in earnest. It usually means they're interested, and like most new relationships, begins superficially. It doesn't lessen the negative impact you've covered (nor do I disagree with said impacts; specifically, when being used as a social shorthand), but I still attempt to engage these situations diplomatically. How to do so is the difficult part, but still, it's always worth a try. When this works, that person usually becomes an ambassador of these sensitivities themselves.

Optimism aside, anything of value —be it material, social, ethnic, or otherwise—always results in someone trying to take it away. After leaving Korea in the early 70's, I went from being white to yellow, since it was more valuable to be white back then —at least in Texas where the Army moved us to., and New York... then Oregon... Colorado... :/

Things have changed and now that being a person of color has gained some value (mostly in entertainment circles) I'm suddenly "just white" again. This is interesting considering my Korean DNA is the dominant half of my genetic makeup, as is my identity since my mom pretty much raised us on her own. My other half is a blend of eastern and western Europe comprising of more than four ethnicities... Yet, I am not considered Korean (especially by those who value "color"... ironic, no?).

Anyway, fantastic insight and thank you for bringing forth an issue that needs more light on it.

[loulou_]

I really enjoyed your in depth analysis of stereotypes😅!
It is a lazy strategy for judging people of mixed ethnicities!

[exoticwallflower]

Hi Becky! Can you do a segment about quarter Koreans? How or what Koreans think of them? Are they still considered Koreans?

[nathanielmills]

Stereotypes are complex. My parents moved to the UK from Jamaica and I was born in the UK. I conveniently fit into the stereotype of being relaxed and stress free. My wife on the otherhand is Korean and everything is 빨리 빨리! We make an odd couple 🇯🇲🇰🇷.
Oh and yes people automatically assume I can run fast. Strangely true.

[coscorrodrift]

this was interesting! i'm half japanese and i've been told by teachers and stuff like that that being mixed was good from a genetical perspective or sth like that (the opposite of endogamy i guess) and it was funny but also kind of a strange comment to make to a kid lol.

it is a mixed bag (pun not intended), i do find interesting thinking whether some aspects come from "dad" or "mom" aka cultural/genetic influence, because it is influential for some stuff, and because i do fit some stereotypes. And i myself find it hard to tell. For example my mom used to (and kinda still does sometimes?) call me derogatorily "you are too spanish!" or "you are just like your father!" when i was being lazy or maybe cutting corners on chores, that type of stuff lmao, and maybe she had a point? lol. can't recall my dad ever doing the equivalent though lol, maybe he was too lazy for that lmao

i think the comment i hear the most is some form of disappointment after i tell them i don't speak the language sadly lol. Maybe that's not as much of a stereotype and more of a reasonable expectation but it does kinda irk me, maybe unfairly lol, but I get tired of never being able to fully explain in limited time the nuances of the situation and either making it sound like my mom was lazy or sth.

[Razear]

I am full Asian and I had struggled with math my entire life...if I had a magic wand, I honestly wish that this stereotype was applicable to me because my life would've been so much easier. lol

[goodbyeg]

I dont know if you’ll ever see that comment, but I’m really glad you’re posting again, we really missed you guys (Becky & Cedric) 🤍🤍