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Asian fetish or asiaphilia is a slang term used in the United States to describe the situation where a non-Asian, typically but not necessarily a white man, is attracted primarily to Asians, particularly East Asians such as Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, etc. This phenomenon has sometimes also been jokingly called "yellow fever".

The slang term has come about because of the large and growing number of White male/ Asian female couples in the United States; according to U.S. Census data there are more marriages between White men and Asian women than any other interracial marriage. Visitors to college campuses also often note the large number of WM/AF couples.

An "Asian fetish" is generally not a fetish by the Freudian definition of the word, i.e. a situation where the object of affection is an inanimate object or a specific part of a person. However, some, especially Asian Americans, allege that individuals are sexually interested in Asians because of qualities they believe to be true amongst the Asian population, such as innocence/virginity, submissive behavior, or promiscuity (although generally not all three at the same time). A distinction is sometimes made between those who are attracted to Asians for these behavioral or other, more fetishistic qualities, and individuals who find Asians physically beautiful and/or culturally interesting. Many people who are attracted to Asians for cultural factors are already attracted, in a non-sexual sense, to some aspect of Asian culture or pop culture.

Many Asians, and a number of non-Asians, consider this allegedly excessive fetishization of Asians based on the perceived qualities of submissiveness, obedience, etc., to be a form of objectification, and in some instances allege it is a kind of racism.

White men who date Asian women often defend themselves against charges that they prefer Asian women for behavioral qualities, instead arguing that they simply prefer the appearance of Asian women like other men prefer the appearance of blonde women.

Other uses of the term

Heard majority in online forums, "Asian fetish" or "Asiaphilia," the term is up to debate.

• This term is sometimes used also towards an non-Asian, not necessarily a White man, who is married, or is an relationship with an Asian.

• If a non-Asian, not necessarily a White man, learns a language of Asian descent, he or she is thought to have an asian fetish. It is wondered if one is learning the French or Italian language, is it thought to be due to a fetish as well?

• The outmarraige of Asians, primarily Asian women, to Whites in the United States brings the question of a "White Fetish" or "Europhilia" of some sort.

• It could mean that there is a "fetish" of Blacks by non-Blacks, who wear clothes, listen to music, act in various demeanors associated with that culture of individuals.

See also: Orientalism

External links

• Why Do Asian Women Date White Men? An Asian American perspective
• Mr. Asiaphile - A humor site that claims to be proud of having an "Asian fetish" (Caution: Contains pornographic and other potentially offensive content)
• The Big Bad Chinese Mama, a radical feminist site that opposes "Asian fetishes" (Caution: May contain offensive content)
• AsianWhite.org - Focusing on Asian & Caucasian Race Relations - A somewhat more neutral and scholarly treatment of the issue

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