Week 4 ASA 114 Jennifer Nguyen Bernal

Jennifer Ngueyn Bernal 

Professor Valverde

ASA 114

The reading "Asian on the Rim: Transnational Capital and Local Community in the Making of Contemporary Asian American" by Arif Dirlik explains that are two problems to "understand Asian America." There is the "Capital of the Pacific Rim," which was California's strategic location that it was vast, diverse, and economic base. It was known as the ideal gateway to the" Pacific Rim and the rest of the world." The author was concerned with how governors are contrasting orientation and different self-image of Asian Americans. The self-image of Asian Americans is in connection with the Pacific, "Golden Door" of California, communities rooted in California, and historical legacies. Arif talks about how Asain Americans have a problem as global postmodernity dealing with transnational capital and social spaces.In Asian American communities, problems are dealing with the language of racial orientalism, and immigration from Asia that is suppressed by ideas from the West. The town has a contradiction between the contemporary consciousness of Asian Americans and the common assumption of Asain Americans. Asia and Asain America is creating a relationship with the global economic power to Pacific and South Asia, being empowered by Euro American capitalism. Even though they are critical players of the worldwide economy, the perception of Asian Americans is changing. The most visible change is the elevation of Asian Americans compared to other minority groups. Gary Okihro explains the "model minority" stereotype and how its created by the orientations. The West created this idea of orientalism and developed the term "Asian" from the racial and cultural structure of orientalism. Even the West believe that they have supported Asain American by putting these positive stereotypes on them, there are new strains that cause issues in social formation. With different Asian immigration entering America, there is a further rise of problems towards Asain Americans concerning other minority groups. Bonacich used the term "middleman minority." The author is concerned about racial, class, and gender division caused by denationalism with the confrontation of promises to transnational capitalism.

Dirlik, Arif. “Asians on the Rim: Transnational Capital and Local Community in the Making of

Contemporary Asian America.” Amerasia Journal, vol. 22, no. 3, 1996, pp. 1–24.

Even though Asia and Asian Americans have become key players to the economic side of transnational and globalization, how does the West still relay of the idea of orientalism to continue these stereotypes against Asian Americans? 

https://irrpp.uic.edu/research/place.shtml