Quick: Name as many famous Asians in the media spotlight as you can.
Let me guess – you barely got 10. How- not surprising.
On Oct. 31, comedienne Margaret Cho made headlines when she criticized pop star Gwen
Stefani’s use of four Japanese backup dancers, known as the “Harajuku Girls.” These girls, who were renamed Love, Angel, Music and Baby to coincide with the title of Stefani’s debut solo album as well as her clothing line, L.A.M.B., follow Stefani around as silent accessories, complete with costumes, crazy hair, painted white faces and pouty red lips.
Cho wrote on her blog that she was really confused about the use of the “Harajuku Girls” because of the promotion of the reticent Japanese schoolgirl stereotype. But Cho pointed out that at least there are some Asian faces in the spotlight, even if they have to be stuck behind a platinum blond American pop singer.
“Even though to me, a Japanese schoolgirl uniform is kind of like blackface, I am just in acceptance over it, because something is better than nothing,” Cho wrote. “An ugly picture is better than a blank space, and it means that one day, we will have another display at the Museum of Asian Invisibility that groups of children will crowd around in disbelief, because once upon a time, we weren’t there.”
Asian-Americans are the third largest minority in the United States behind Hispanics and African-Americans. There are Asian influences everywhere in this country, from Tai Chi to feng shui to the sushi bar down the street. But when it comes to Asian-Americans actually being noticed, that’s another thing entirely.
In 2000, the nation’s largest toy maker, Mattel, came out with “President Barbie.” This iconic figure stood as a role model to little girls everywhere who wanted to rule the most powerful country in the world. Except for little Asian girls.
There was an African-American President Barbie, an Hispanic President Barbie and of course the natural blond President Barbie, all in professional pantsuits ready to declare war, sign treaties or have the vice president over for a cup of tea in the Oval Office. But Mattel somehow overlooked the Asian-American President Barbie, who must have lost in the primaries. Maybe she wasn’t even nominated.
This obvious snub outraged the Asian-American community, members of which demanded to know why Asian girls couldn’t play with a doll that looked like them and held the most powerful position in the United States.
“That particular community has not expressed interest in a doll that reflects their ethnicity,” Mattel spokeswoman, Julia Jensen told The Boston Globe in May 2000.
Pardon me while I punch you in the face, Ms. Jensen.
Growing up, I longed for dolls that looked like me. My baby dolls were always “adopted” because I put together that there was no way some blond baby could have any scrap of my DNA whatsoever. But, unsurprisingly, there were no Asian dolls for me to buy because toy companies like Mattel had already made the decision that I really didn’t want one anyway. What a load of crap.
For all of the Lucy Lius out there, there will be three Jessica Simpsons – talentless blondes with big boobs and a southern twang. But hey, isn’t that what Americans really want anyway?
Now please excuse me while I fade into the background.

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