Asian American Women in Media Are Just Getting Started

The first time I watched an Asian American woman on television (apart from Bollywood movies) was in the mid-’90s when the sitcom series All American Girl premiered. At the time, seeing someone from my diaspora onscreen felt aspirational, and as a community we were one step closer to achieving the “American Dream.” It wasn’t until later that I reflected back to the roots of those early programs and realized they were full of harmful stereotypes that ostracized the community, instead of uplifting it.

Fast forward to 2023, and the representation of Asian American women in cinema and television has finally found a home. Take Joyland for example, a movie about a Pakistani trans actress in the quest for queer equality that premiered at Cannes, got shortlisted for the Oscars, and earned recognition at the Sundance Film Festival. Not only did the storyline have a profound Asian American presence, but every member of the crew, leads of internal departments, and talent were of Pakistani and South Asian descent.

“Focus on the craft, that’s what sets it apart. The feeling of ‘other’ is your superpower that makes you and your work very unique. Nationality, just like everything else, is fluid.”

“The story was so universal and spoke to people in the Western audiences. In terms of film and character development, we need to be conscious of how to portray those characters and we made sure we did adequate research and development to create authentic characters,” notes Apoorva Charan, filmmaker and writer of Joyland at the Advancing Asian American Women Representation panel that took place at Sundance late last month. “Focus on the craft, that’s what sets it apart. The feeling of ‘other’ is your superpower that makes you and your work very unique. Nationality, just like everything else, is fluid.”

Though major industries like media and entertainment are slowly shifting towards more inclusion, there is still much to be desired. The value of Asian American women in mainstream culture is no longer limited to “hyper-sexualized maids” or “dragon ladies” as Korean American moderator and Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News Hyunju “Juju” Chang phrased it. Still, these “exotic,” submissive, and one-dimensional characters that often show up on mainstream media reinforce negative stereotypes and perpetuates the notion that Asian American women are not complex, multi-faceted individuals.

To address this issue, there needs to be a concerted effort to increase representation and inclusivity in all aspects of media and entertainment. At the panel, there was great discussion on ways to increase the number of Asian American women in creative and executive positions, provide opportunities for Asian American women to showcase their talents, and amplify the stories of the community.

From left, Apoorva Charan, Maia Shabutani and Reena Mehta.

Christine Chang

One of these storytellers at the panel was Maia Shibutani, an Olympic ice dancer and third-generation Japanese American, who is using her skillset to create children’s books with her brother. Their latest book Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All, which comes out in April, features a total of 36 Asian American and Pacific Islander historical and contemporary figures (split evenly between male and female) from a variety of career paths and experiences. Some examples include disabled hero Daniel Inouye, immigrant astronaut Kalpana Chawla, and biracial entertainer Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

“Our intention is to create stories that we wish we had as children because it will serve as representation for the future and to give children a sense of self-worth.”

“Our intention is to create stories that we wish we had as children because it will serve as representation for the future and to give children a sense of self-worth. Through reading, we are helping them build core memories with their parents, and then later seek similar books when they can read on their own,” she says.

Leaning into her own personal life and the challenges she faced as being part of the first Asian American ice skating team, Shibutani and her brother are empowered to share stories about the reality of Asian American experience. This means highlighting the challenges and failures as much as celebrating the wins. The decision to choose children books as a medium was also intentional, though educating adults is equally important for continued awareness.

“The pursuit of knowledge and understanding will require ongoing curiosity and thoughtful participation,” she says. “I think conversations are a great way to learn about various backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. I think people of all ages, even adults, who read Amazing, will learn something new.”

Despite being so diverse and touching so many sectors, the Asian American diaspora is really misunderstood. One of the themes during the panel was to give people the opportunity to tell their narratives; for those who are newcomers or might be experiencing imposter syndrome, it may mean to grant them a chance by hiring them for non-stereotypical roles, providing mentorship and sponsorship opportunities, and supporting female-led businesses.

“Within the vast AAPI diaspora, it’s important to understand how to tell our non-fiction stories and to focus on who it is for.”

“I’ve been in a lot of rooms where I’m the only person that looks like me,” shares panelist Reena Mehta, senior vice president of streaming and digital content at ABC Studios. “Within the vast AAPI diaspora, it’s important to understand how to tell our non-fiction stories and to focus on who it is for. No one hands you a template on how to report or work in the news, and especially when you feel like you are the ‘other.’ It’s important to help people set up for success and give them access.”

And of course, continuing the conversation is key to ensuring that the representation of Asian Americans across these industries does not halt. Though this was Shibutani’s first Sundance Film Festival, she recognizes how gathering in these panels and fostering connectivity allows for collaboration. The goal is to continue this growth year after year.