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LESSON 4: ICONS VERSUS STEREOTYPES IN THE MEDIA
The Thought
Looking deeper at a structural form of racism, namely representation and misrepresentation of Asians in the media,
will give students a stronger lens by which to view current events and to better analyze their environment.
Description
Students discuss the harmful effects of racial stereotypes of Asian Americans including Asian immigrants. Students
will watch television and listen to the radio or view news media sources online to observe racial stereotyping and the
representation of people of color. Several activities are suggested below. Teachers, please use your own discretion
on which ones fit within your allotted timeframe.
Objectives
1. Identify two stereotypes Asian American women and men have had to fight in order to be recognized for
their contributions.
2. Recognize the importance of self-representation
3. Identify three ways Bruce Lee changed perceptions in the media and how stereotypes of Asian Americans
including Asian immigrants have changed since his time.
4. Students will be able to explain the effect some of these new stereotypes have had on these populations.
Time Frame
Variable.
(Two-hour Bruce Lee Immersion Tour at Wing Luke Museum will further supplement this lesson.)
Materials
• Notebook or loose leaf paper
• Pen or pencil
Supplemental Reading
Websites and Articles
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Vocabulary
American
Resilience
Culture
Security
Ethnicity
Tradition
Foreign
Teacher Prep
Review the supplemental online readings. Make sure that the language used is appropriate for your students. Decide if
these readings fit with your own lesson plans.
Note: We recommend you print these out, and delete all expletives. These are blogs, and unfortunately the discussions are
great, but the need to be shocking overwhelms some of these writers.
LESSON 4:
ICONS VERSUS STEREOTYPES IN THE MEDIA
Immigrant
Migrant
Nationality
Perseverance
Refugee
Tradition
