China doll. Meek, submissive, mysterious and sultry. White man's geisha. She shrieks at the sight of a mouse. She takes insults as a reminder to improve upon her flawed self. She is the survivor of abuse by Asian men from her past, just as she watched her mother abused by the hands of her father. She endures. She sits quietly alone, waiting for her white knight to come untie her from generations of misery. Who is she?

The answer is simple. She is a creation. She is a fantasy Asian woman crafted by the minds of white men.

I am a real Asian woman. I don't see myself fitting the synthetic mold by any stretch of the imagination. Fortunately, I am able to separate myself from this Asian female persona, as I am aware that she is a third-party creation, an amalgamation of laughable stereotypes.

My life, while filled with many goals and driven by a multitude of ambitions, has undeniably been shaped by my constant battle with fighting racism and stereotypes. As my life experiences have taught me, many people mistake the myths about Asian women for reality. I realize, however, that those who hold misconceptions about Asians cannot be placed entirely at fault. Asian Americans currently comprise only 4% of the total US population. Therefore, those who have little to no daily contact with Asian Americans have only the media and second-hand accounts to rely on for their images and perceptions of Asian Americans.

The disturbing element in all of this is the flagrant inaccuracies attached to the media-constructed image of the Asian American woman. And the consequence that I suffer due to this is that I am viewed as an aberration from the supposed "norm". I am an aberration because I speak my mind. I am an aberration because I assert my preferences. I am an aberration because I choose to date Asian males exclusively.

I am an activist. And like most activists, I am one by circumstance. It is disturbing to me that other Asian women and I are often measured up against a grossly inaccurate and degrading image. And as any self-respecting individual would do, I consistently correct any misconceptions about myself that have been imposed on me by an image on television, or a character in a novel. I realize, however, that I alone cannot change the world. People outside of my immediate hemisphere will continue to rely on the media and literature for their exposure to Asians. It is with these obvious limitations, therefore, that I continue my efforts to bring change.

I realized some time ago, that my efforts should focus on correcting the bigger picture. And in thinking of ways in which to do so, I came upon the following conclusion: If people who have little to no contact with Asians continue to rely on the media as their source of information, then the media image should at least be a more accurate reflection of reality. It is with this determination that I came upon a certain idea.

My campaign, or better put, my goal is simple: to either replace or supplement Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club from the reading lists of high schools and universities across the nation with other works written by Asian American authors who more accurately portray Asian Americans. JLC is currently used by institutions of learning across the nation, and is referenced as a novel that is "representative of the AA experience". Its recognition is so mainstream, in fact, that it comes along with Cliffs Notes. Furthermore, JLC holds the record for the highest gross sales for a novel written by an Asian American author, and even hit the silver screens in 1993, directed by Hollywood big shot Oliver Stone. Through Amy Tan and JLC, the images of self-loathing Asian women and abusive Asian men have reached the minds of thousands across the nation.

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