Do the Harajuku Girls who accompany Gwen Stefani in her videos and public appearances cross a line into offensive territory? Margaret Cho thinks so. Well, sort of. ”I want to like them, and I want to think they are great, but I am not sure if I can,” the comedian writes in her blog. In Cho’s mind, ”a Japanese schoolgirl uniform is kind of like blackface,” but on the other hand, given how few high-profile Asian Americans there are in mainstream pop culture, she argues ”at least it is a measure of visibility, which is much better than invisibility.”
Lest Cho lose heart, however, today’s TV Tattle links to an article in AsianWeek.com that cites a surge of Korean American actors on network TV, including roles on Lost, Kitchen Confidential, Grey’s Anatomy, and several midseason series. With such an encouraging trend emerging, perhaps the always hilarious Cho won’t have to ‘’settle for following any white person around with an umbrella just so I could say I was there.”
What do you think? Does Cho have a valid argument? And if Stefani sang about her desire to have enough money to possess, dress, and name four adult black women, or Jewish women, or lesbians, would she be facing a greater public outcry?
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Remember, she stole a song originally performed by an old, Jewish man in a Broadway musical about Jewish ghetto life in Eastern Europe (If I Were a Rich Man from Fiddler on the Roof)for this album, as well as the Japanese schoolgirl posse. I found the song annoying because she IS, in fact, a VERY rich girl!
Well, if Gwen had a back up band of hot Asian women (think the 5,6,7,8’s but with talent) it would be a lot more okay.
But somehow, I keep imagining Gwen on some wooden block,inspecting the teeth on these women and such, saying “this one is good, this one is not so good”, etc. If her posse was made up of several young teenagers from Africa who she dressed up in rags and never let speak, I am sure a few people would be pretty upset…
i think it’s a bit ridiculous to compare it to blackface! for her it was about a style movement she saw in japan and embraced it and tried to make it mainstream. i’m not a fan, purely because i think the first couple of times i saw it, it was cute. the 2nd million times i saw her with her crew was just tired.
I didn’t mind them, but they are gettng tired. Throw them a blanket and pillow. However, I don’t see what’s so different from her carting around a posse of general stereotypes when many rappers and R&B artists have scads of entourage with them that embrace a different stereotype or fashion ethos.
It is very offensive; she treats these girls like they are her pets…The just follow her around and strike poses without speaking or deciding what they can wear or how they can act. Paris Hilton treats her dogs better than Gwen treats these girls
I can see why Margeret feels funny about that..
Yes, Isabel… these women do not have voices, but is their lack of a voice (as a paid model/companion) any different from models on a runway promoting fashion, which is what Gwen is all about anyway… fashion instead of substance?
I’ve never liked Gwen’s “girls”, especially when she appeared on TRL and said that she was surprised everyone else could see them and how she was sure she just imagined them. They are real people and even though they are capable backup dancers/singers, they are treated like photo props most of the time. I never really noticed the race thing, they are supposed to be Japanese Harajuku girls after all but it does seem offensive. By the way, I am a hispanic girl. And, If I saw a white artist with 4 hispanic girls following them around, not speaking and wearing color matching and reavealing clothing I would be really disgusted.
I don’t know if Gwen should be criticized all that much for the Harajuku girls’ style, although I’m sure she dictates a lot of what goes on. Still, Margaret’s thing about schoolgirl dress being like blackface is silly, since the Japanese girls are the ones who started wearing that sort of thing themselves. Gwen just picked up on it and incorporated it into her act.
What’s offensive is that she has these girls’ (the Gwenihana Four http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2005/04/09/geisha/index_np.html) only purpose is to perpetuate stereotypes of Asian women as voiceless, subservient (the upcoming movie based on Arthur Golden Geisha fantasies isn’t going to help debunk these stereotypes either) and exotic.
It has been reported that these girls are actually either Asian American or speak fluent English but are contractually obligated to stay silent. Also, her lyrics actually discuss taking home Harajuku Girls and giving them names! As if they were less than human, which is the whole problem to begin with.
I have absolutely no qualms with Cho comparing the Harajuku minstrel act to blackface. Race in America has always been more than black vs. white. Because racial dialogues rarely include Asian Americans, any injustice that happens against an Asian person is dismissed. The way that Harajuku girls are portrayed TODAY (and a lot of Asians for that matter. Didn’t anyone watch “Without a Trace” the other night? Sheesh) is exactly how African Americans were portrayed by Hollywood 70 years ago. A minstrel act is still a minstrel act.
At this point it’s just boring – enough already. Unfortunately for Gwen, she is the type of ‘artist’ who needs a gimmick instead of being able to rely on her music.
the link didn’t work, unfortunately, because i didn’t realize some of the things you wrote and wanted to read more about them.
“Race in America has always been more than black vs. white.”
I’m glad that more Asians are stepping up and wanting to be heard now.. but DO NOT COMPARE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE TO THAT OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. Its not even close. Loook I’m gonna have to use the card .. as a matter of fact its called the Slavery Card. You may not want me to mention is but its there .. you can’t escape it. Attempts to try to equate (insert minority group here) historical experince is the same as the african americans experience is well kind of questionable.
Keith’s link doesn’t work because it has the second parantheses included in the link. Try this…
http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2005/04/09/geisha/index_np.html
I never said the Asian American experience was exactly like the African American experience. Though ALL people of color have faced their own form of struggle throughout the history of America.
However, to say that other peoples of color did not see similar acts of injustice and opression is still seeing race in America as solely black and white. Visit a reservation. Read about the building of the TransContinental Railroad.
So while I am NOT equating the Asian American struggle with slavery, I AM saying, however, that the portrayal of Asians in the mainstream media in 2005 is exactly how African Americans were portrayed in 1935. This is the point of Cho’s original blog. There are millions of Asian Americans; yet, the only time they are ever seen are in subservient, stereotypical portrayals. Stefani’s Harajuku Girls is just another example of a LONG tradition in American pop culture.
The Salon article is up. Try accessing via this link:
http://www.salon.com/src/pass/gateway/gateway550×480.html?http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2005/04/09/geisha/index_np.html
Hmm… it all depends, right?
4 tribesman from Africa dancing around: no good.
4 K-Fed b-ballers dancing around: ironically funny.
4 white teenaged schoolgirls grinding: uh, hello, lawsuit.
4 Inuit running around in parkas: nope.
4 uptight rich white soccer moms: hysterical.
4 Enron execs who go around shredding things: played out.
I guess it all depends on the context. When posses are parody, it’s okay. When you are part of the posse somehow, that’s good too. (Madonna can carry around as many gay men as she’d like.) But, to bring them 4 Japanese girls around like Tamagotchi is more irrelevant than offensive.
“The portrayal of Asians in the mainstream media in 2005 is exactly how African Americans were portrayed in 1935″ Are you sure you want to back up that comment? You are making a comparison. Thats what I dont get. Thats the problem. Your telling me about the Transcontinental Railroad, finished around end of the 1800’s i think around 1869. Dude slavery was abolished in 1862. African Americans were slaves just a year before that horrible saga begain.
What angers me is that why must the comparison be made. If you want to discuss the experience of other minority groups why bring African Americans into the discussion at all. Why not just state historical references pertaining just to those trangressions against that particular minority group.
And to state “However, to say that other peoples of color did not see similar acts of injustice and opression is still seeing race in America as solely black and white.” What are you talking about? Slavery is Slavery. What you are saying is that in order to push what ever point you want to push you are willing to IGNORE the unique historical differences that African-Americans have experienced in the Americas.
That just doesnt fly with me. If you feel you are up to schooling me, then please by all means tell me about the
massive slave trade routes from South America, Central America or Asia to the Continental United States. I would be really interested to read up on it.
Y’know, a lot of you seem to have so much of an opinion about what should be heard in the media regarding this stupid Gwen Stefani thing. I’m actually pretty surprised about how half of you are getting so offended by it and how no one said anything about this matter until this article was posted. A lot of you seem to provide pretty valid points indeed, BUT YOU’RE POSTING THEM IN AN EW BLOG. If so many of you are wondering why your opinions can’t be heard, it’s because you’re posting all of your gripes and complaints on a blog which will provide no consequence to whatever you have to say. What do you think is going to happen? Is Gwen going to take time out of her busy schedule to read the Popwatch blog and realize, “hmmm, maybe this IS offending a few people. Maybe I should stop.”? OF COURSE NOT! She’s going to keep doing it because nobody has the sense nor the courage to actually start something and attack the core of the problem. It’s crap like that which allows half the injustices occurring in this country today: Everyone wants to complain about what’s wrong instead of assuming responsibility for any of it. Don’t complain: DO SOMETHING!!!
Free the Gwenihana Four! http://gwenihana.blogspot.com
Those Harajuku chicks creep me out. Someone save Gwen from them.
I personally don’t think you can really compare two minority groups and the hardships that they have gone through. It IS TRUE that since she is carrying around 4 asian women no one really minds, but if she sang about naming and possessing 4 black women or 4 white women no one would allow it! Because Asians are viewed as passive and willing to just be the “model minorities” that they are, they allow it.
I’m just outraged that this is just another example of how Asians are being portrayed as the passive subservient and mute people.
In responce to KIETH, the Japanese girls didn’t just wake up one day and say “I’m going to start wearing these school girl outfits because I want to.” WRONG! It just comes from the fantasy that has been associated with Asian women. That was just a very ignorant thing to say.
In responce to JRSYGRL, fine go ahead and pull out the slavery card but what you probably didn’t know is that Asians were also forced into slavery. What is ironic about that is that the Dutch imported Asian slaves into their colony in Africa. Also, while we’re pulling out cards, how about the Japanese Internment Camp Card? Those who were of Japanese ancestry were forced out of their home to live in internment camps, even those who were born in America.
Jessica, I think you’ve attributed the wrong quotes to me. I never said “the Japanese girls didn’t just wake up one day and say ‘I’m going to start wearing these school girl outfits because I want to.’” That was brandok.
The identity of the poster is actually BELOW the comment.
For those who scream IN ALL CAPS not to compare racism against asians with racism against blacks – what the eff are you talking about?
I think the word you are loking for is EQUATE, not COMPARE. To COMPARE two things does not mean you’re saying they are identical.
Without comparisons how would we ever be able to put anything into context or learn from history or one another?
Sheesh.
I don’t like how everything asian has become trendy. gwen uses her harajuku girls like props, it’s really kind of sick and more than a little annoying. I’m not sure if this flood of “yellow fever” is better than not getting any mainstream attention, because where does that put us (asians) when this trend goes out of style?
I have to say that if I thought Gwen were “parading” these girls around to show dominance over another, I would be irate. However… she seems to adore and admire the beauty of the costume, the makeup, the culture. NO ONE adopts a style that they don’t admire. NO FASHION comes without inspiration. Gwen has dressed the part for years… adopting Japanese hair styles, Raggae colored wristbands, 1940’s pin-up-girl make-up. Why are we so shocked now?
As for the way Japanese women are portrayed as being subservient… that fight should be directed at the men in their culture. In history, and today. No one has even mentioned that Gwen does not own these girls… she has hired them. No one in the free world does anything for free. These girls are in her “entourage” because they are getting paid, or they are taking advantage of the opportunity to tour with “Gwen Stefani.”. If we were looking at a movie star or a rock star who had a Japanese body guard, a Japanese Tour Guide, a Japanese PA, a Japanese make-up artist, a Japanese book-keeper, no one would complain. God forbid she would have a Samurai warrior do a performance in a show… would we criticize her for exploiting violence, or would we hail her for acknowledging the beauty of the tradition? But because of the fact that Gwen has hired someone to play the role of the female… the beautiful, seductive, educated Japanese female, people are upset. Leave it alone… or pick fights with every artist who has been inspired or motivated by a foreign culture.
As for giving a group of girls names?… what about the Spice Girls? No one started a campaign against the MEN who put together the oh-so-ever-previosly-popular-girl-group “Spice Girls.” Tell me that their names weren’t derogatory… aimed at their physical appearance and racial background! Give me a break. It happens all the time.
“I didn’t mind them, but they are gettng tired. Throw them a blanket and pillow. However, I don’t see what’s so different from her carting around a posse of general stereotypes when many rappers and R&B artists have scads of entourage with them that embrace a different stereotype or fashion ethos.”
B, that’s because you don’t see the difference: Racism. Quit being so ignorant and wake up.
“As for giving a group of girls names?… what about the Spice Girls? No one started a campaign against the MEN who put together the oh-so-ever-previosly-popular-girl-group “Spice Girls.” Tell me that their names weren’t derogatory… aimed at their physical appearance and racial background! Give me a break. It happens all the time.”
You’ve got the gender roles part correct. But women are CONSTANTLY used in the media for their appearances. But wanna know the difference? The Spice Girls were SINGERS. Wanna know something else? Irony. They authored the phrase “girl power.”
Tallulah, you are as empty-headed as people can be. That’s pitiful.
The Harajuku Girls don’t even talk at all. They just strike poses…and wear revealing clothing. No singing.
Beautiful Asian Girl
To read this video, you need to activate my school has yet noticed an asi
I am a Japanese American and I just wanted to add my thoughts. I actually don’t believe that this is some issue of racial inferiority. I think it’s a little odd that people write about how she owns them like pets and even compare her to slavebuyer at a slave trade auction. If any of them were unsatisfied with their supposed “treatment,” they can easily quit. The Harajuku Girls decide to work with Gwen Stefani because they obviously enjoy it – no one is forcing them to perform. I read in a newspaper article that Gwen is a very nice, down to earth person who treats her dancers well and with respect. I agree with some of the previous comments that Gwen has the Harajuku Girls as part of her performance because she obviously loves the culture of Japan (Harajuku to be more specific). I definitely admire Gwen Stefani and her music and the fact that she has Japanese back up dancers, to me is great! I believe that there are tons of instances of racism that exist today, but this is not.