Some important tips on making/writing Asian OCs
Try to stay away from the smart/nerdy Asian stereotype. Plenty of Asian people are very smart, just like in any other race. However, stereotypical racial representation is worse than none at all. By all means, you can have an intelligent Asian character but make sure their intelligence is not the main factor of their personality.
Write more than just East and light-skinned Asians. In most cases, if an author wants to have some Asian representation they’ll throw in a Chinese or Japanese character. And while yes, there aren’t very many Chinese and Japanese characters as opposed to white, there are even less Southeast, South, and Middle Eastern Asian representation. Not all Asians have light skin, even in East Asia. There are plenty of Korean, Chinese, and Japanese people with dark skin!
Do your research when naming Asian characters. Unless you want to end up like J.K. Rowling who’s sole Asian character was named Cho Chang. Do not just throw a last name with an ‘ong’ or an ‘ang’ at the end.
Represent plus size Asians. Asian women are stereotyped as petite, and just like white plus size women, plus size Asian women need representation in media.
Asian people don’t eat everything with chopsticks. I didn’t think that needed to be said, but here we are.
Create Asian characters with an alternative fashion sense/style. Asians with dyed hair. Asians with piercings. Asians with tattoos.
Stay away from the strict parent Asian stereotype. In fact, stay away from every stereotype, okay?
Keep in mind, stereotypes for other races aren’t the same for Asian people.
By all means, write about Asian culture. BUT MAKE SURE IT IS ACCURATE!!!
Write Asian characters who get in trouble and/or are reckless. Asians that swear. Asians that break rules. Asians that get detention.
Do not, under any circumstance, use the word ‘chinky’ to describe an Asian character. Just. Don’t.
Asian people face racism too.
Don’t fetishize or demonize Asian culture.
Asian people, feel free to add some more on! If you’re white or non-Asian POC do not comment if you reblog! (Unless it’s to say something like, oh nice tips! Or thank you, I didn’t know that!)
If you can, reblog. I haven’t seen any for Asian OCs.
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