Asian fetish

An Asian fetish is a strong sexual or romantic preference for people of Asian descent or heritage. The term usually refers to women specifically of East or Southeast Asian descent,^{[1][2][3][4][5]} though this may also include those of South Asian descent.^[5][6]

The origins of the Asian fetish are unclear. White male Dutch colonists fetishized Southeast Asian women in colonial Indonesia, on the basis of the darker skin and hair color of the local women.^[7] Similar accounts were reported in other colonised territories such as British India where it was common for English men to have Indian mistresses against a backdrop where Indian women were sexualised through, what scholars describe as, a typical colonial gaze and viewed as seductive, sensual and exotic.^[5] After World War 2, Japanese women gained prominence in American beauty pageants, at a time when large numbers of Japanese war brides were entering the United States.^[8]

Studies of physical attractiveness have demonstrated that Asian women are ranked as the most physically attractive women in Western countries,^[9] and they are the most desired women in online dating.^[10][11] In addition to being over-represented in pornographic films, there is widespread hyper-sexualization of Asian women in popular culture.

The psychological effects of the fetish are unclear. Some authors have suggested that the fetish may be flattering to Asian women,^[12] while others believe it is harmful to their self-esteem, as it can reduce their self-worth to their physical attributes.^[13][14] Further research has shown that the fetishization of Asian women may fuel resentment in white women, who feel that their status is downgraded by Asian women's popularity.^[15]

The derogatory term yellow fever is sometimes used to describe the fetishization of East Asians and Southeast Asian men/women by non-Asians, as well as having a preference for dating or marrying men/women of East Asian and Southeast Asian origin.^[4] The usage of "yellow" stems from the color terminology for race that is sometimes applied to people of East Asian descent.