What did you think of The Joy Luck Club?

Dan: All the Asian men were either geeks or assholes.

Clarence: Russell Wong [who played a handsome but adulterous and abusive husband in the film] was an attractive and masculine character. You seldom see that. The guy was strong, masculine, attractive--a better image than being effeminate and a pansy.

Dan: But why can't you be masculine and a good guy?

Why does there seem to be a lower number of Asian man/white woman couples than vice versa?

Khoi: I think a lot of times Asian males are very conscious of whom they want to date. They want To keep the line pure. The white woman is off limits. To say `damn, white men are taking our women [shows] an inferiority complex.'

Dan: We're ignoring a big factor. It's harder for an Asian man to ask a white woman out. [It's] a self-imposed position of inferiority.

Alfred: I don't find asking white women out difficult.

Khoi: Asian women have problematic relationships with their fathers. Asian women tend to think Asian men are sexists.

David Choi '95: When I ask out an Asian or Korean girl, if I get rejected then I know it's because of my personality. if I get rejected by a white girl, I don't know if it's because she doesn't like me as a person or because I'm Asian.

Albert Kim: when an Asian woman goes out with a white man, it preserves a gender and racial hierarchy.

What about Asian women?

Dan: Asian women take more risks in their lives. Albert Lee '94: Because they can afford to [explore alternative, less lucrative careers], they can get married [to men who can support them]. I don't mean it's good, but society accepts. it.

David: I totally agree. [Men] have to be the breadwinner.

Dan: I would be happy if my wife supports me.