Gay Asian Masculinity

"We have free penis enlargement pills to give out ... nobody wants them? Any Asian man here? you know you need some!" - An unidentified host for porn company "Raging Stallion studio" booth in 2006 S.F. civic center fair.

The ideal male sexuality in American society is described as a right amount of 'masculinity'. This ideal masculinity oftentimes means a tall white muscular man with a big penis. In his article "Looking for My Penis," Richard Fung points out that Asian men are typecast into effeminacy, while Black men are typecast into hyper-masculinity. In this spectrum, the White male masculinity is assumed as the ideal amount of masculinity. Therefore, all Asian men are assumed to have a small penis, which can not threaten the white male masculinity. His article was written in 1996, but as seen in the quote above, the prejudice still prevails and surfaces itself freely in public sphere.

"Here we have an Asian boy with a small penis. He needs a well-endowed top who will show him a good time in bed tonight." - An unidentified drag show host in 2008 in Raleigh, N.C.*

*The quote was modified and paraphrased to delete vulgar language.

What is the worth of a gay man who has a penis that cannot dominate another man by penile domination? To take a receptive role in anal sex would be the answer. Within this logic, all Asian men are therefore assumed to be the receptive role, regardless of their actual preferences.

Pretty depressing, isn't it?

However, the efforts to break down the stereotype are slowly but surely changing the perception of the public. One of the most prominent efforts will be the annual calendar named "Asian Men Redefined." http://www.asianmenredefined.com/

Started in San Francisco in 2006, the calendar's website claims that "It is time for Asian Men to strut their hot stuff and show the world that Asian Men are BOLDER, SMARTER, and SEXIER than ever before."

Also featuring of masculine Asian male characters on television shows, such as Lost, has presented a possibility of masculine gay Asian man to the nationwide TV audience. Yet, the battle is hardly won. Standing up against the stereotype is the only way to break down the stereotype that still exists in our society.


Asian Men Redefined. (2006 - 2009). retrieved from http://asianmenredefined.com/ April 12, 2009.

Fung, R. (1996). Looking for My Penis: The Eroticitized Asian in Gay Video Porn. In R. Leong (Ed.) Asian American Sexualities. (pp. 21-36). New York: Routledge.

Nguyen, H. (2006). Reflections on an Asian Bottom: Gay Asian American Masculinity and Sexual Representation. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Studies Association . 2009-02-04 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p114659_index.html