Textbooks and Advertisment
A textbook in Hongkong illustrated people introducing themselves. To some, it is normal text, but for those who take time to look and analyze, both the description and physical illustrations of British, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Indian people are stereotypes. The connotative level of these descriptions not only generalize a population, some terms are offensive and unjust. In a denotative level, the textbook illustrated British people as English teachers, Chinese as living in Shanghai, Filipino as domestic workers, Japanese as owners of a restaurant in Hongkong, and Indians as students of international schools. While the intention is not purely evil, it still has an implicit motive to degrade.
These are the problems in our textbooks – incorrect information and underlying biases. The perception of racial harmony under these given representations is not entirely realized due to limitations, generalizations, and biases.
In the Bayo advertisement, the woman is portrayed 40% British and 60% Filipino and wearing a suit on a denotative level. In a connotative level based on my opinion, it is more anchored to foreign aspects rather than Filipino aspects. The representation contradicts my notion of Filipino women given the physical elements of the advertisement, because it is very different from what I see in my everyday life as a part of the Philippine population.
References
Cayabyab, M. (2014). Hongkong textbook. [Online Image]. Word Press. https://macoycayabyab.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/hong-kong-texbook.png
Hands up. [Online Image]. Times Higher Education. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/race-equality-plan-signs-up-universities/2013683.article
