I mentioned in my previous post the idea of a “white-washed” Asian American. In this post, I will elaborate on my thoughts about it.

First, a definition: used here, “white-washed” means having dissociated oneself from one’s ancestral culture by adopting or attempting to adopt an American lifestyle. Being white-washed typically only applies to non-Caucasian people that live in America.

There are different degrees of “white-washedness” and different people will consider different people white-washed. However, in general, it entails all or a combination of the following:

• Hanging out exclusively with white people
• Following trends in American clothes and style
• Inability or refusal to speak in their parents’ language
• Denial of or dissociation with their ancestral culture in any way possible
• Occasional touting of their ancestral culture when it is to their advantage

Being white-washed is a phenomenon that I associate mainly with Asian Americans, including Indian Americans. While I have seen white-washed African Americans, they are not as common. The reasons for this trend may be because the cultural disparity is very acute between Eastern and Western cultures and Asian Americans more commonly have parents who were born and raised in another country.

By my observations, in areas where the Asian American population is close to the national average, the vast majority of Asian Americans dabble in their heritage or are white-washed and a small percentage actively celebrate and learn about their heritage. There can also be some degree of white-washing in first generation immigrants themselves, though I can’t speak to much more besides its existence.

Generally, the term white-washed is negative and used disparagingly. While I think being white-washed has a strong correlation with being myopic, I don’t think that people who choose to turn away from their heritage necessarily have a worse way of life. It’s a decision that they made for themselves, and if they enjoy it, then I think they should continue doing what makes them comfortable. Being treated like a foreigner and stereotyped constantly is really not an enjoyable experience, and I can see why they would choose to distance themselves from the part of them that causes some grief.

I venture to say that for all Asian Americans, there is to some extent a degree of confusion or uncertainty about one’s cultural identity. It’s simply that we look to different methods to reconcile our needs for belonging and identity. No one really enjoys being alienated. The difference lies in who we turn to to find acceptance: white people, other Asian Americans, or maybe neither.

My own technique for reconciling my cultural identity question, which I will elaborate on next time, is one that seeks to intertwine both the culture I was born into and the culture that I come from. I think there is a great benefit from being in touch with both, rather than sticking only to the predominant one or solely to other Asian Americans.