A Study of Asian American Issues in the United States - Nicoline Pedersen - Krista Celo - Eden Stilman - Seren Ventullo

The Chinese were gendered in the eyes of the white American. Men were emasculated and shown to possess feminine-like qualities whilst still being viewed as a threat to white women. Chinese women were viewed as prostitutes who would give white men diseases. The way the United States gendered the Chinese population contributed to their belief that they were an immoral race that could never be integrated into American culture. This idea was depicted in political cartoons that gave Chinese people animalistic qualities---most often ratlike. Such depictions encouraged a reputation of being ‘dirty’ and ‘disease- ridden.' This discrimination stretched into regions that the Chinese took refuge in and attempted to call home. Chinatowns, which are residential neighborhoods and tourist attractions in present day society, had a far different image during the Anti-Chinese Movement. They were seen as areas to avoid with a reputation of crime or a way to ‘observe’ Chinese people. The Discrimination of Chinese in the United States

Whereas, in the opinion of the Government of the United States the coming of Chinese laborers to this country endangers the good order of certain localities within the territory thereof.

-Chinese Exclusion Act-

1