"Fresh Off the Boat" Stereotypes and Assimilation

     I chose the TV show "Fresh Off the Boat" to talk about how assimilation and stereotypes are used to make this show valuable. Assimilation is when minority groups are only portrayed positively when they give up or hide their cultural identity and adhere to the mainstream culture's ideals. Eddie Huang's narrative was translated into this show and for the most part has been found to represent all Asians in one way or another. Throughout the entire show the audience can lean into their perspective on how the Huang’s family tries to assimilate into the American culture found in Orlando, Florida. Generally I believe in comparison to other shows this show has taken on assimilation and stereotyping in an exceptionally funny way, it being mostly a sitcom.

   After all it's quite hard for anyone to assimilate properly anywhere, though for Jessica, the mom, thinks that having to assimilate to feel normal in this growing society will eventually feel as, hiding systemic foundations of inequality behind images of acceptance and diversity. This will take a bigger toll on their family and will forget about the cultural upbringing and tradition. Each and every character of the show represents something entirely different about how they've assimilated into society. Jessica is a strong main character that highlights the importance of why it is not such a good idea to always try to blend into the American culture because of her traditions she was taught. Symbolism within characters show how progressively they assimilate into American culture which also hinders losing cultural ideals that their grandparents have. 

    Social acceptance within their neighbors and other parents, business success within them owning a restaurant named Cattlemen's Ranch equates to not receiving judgment for being a minority group. This goes hand in hand with creating images of inclusivity and diversity masking systemic roots of injustice. It would be entirely impossible for anyone to come to America and not value the culture that is already in place, which makes anyone think it is all normal. Yet what brings the challenge is feeling as if you're supposed to assimilate in a specific way that is told to be the correct way. In a way this comes to play with dehistoricizing, entailing and ignoring obscuring minority group's past and contemporary struggles for recognition, equality, and survival.

     Sitcoms are known to inadvertently reinforce racial stereotypes making them funny in either a positive or at times joking about it in negative ways. It is quite known throughout television how the "model minority" stereotype is portrayed evidently for minority races. The portrayal of the Asian Americans in “Fresh Off the Boat” is to make you think that all Asian Americans are people who are smart and hardworking. According to this stereotype, Asian Americans are shown to be people that are part of a group of individuals who are naturally high achievers, good at math and technology, as well as becoming doctors because they can highly achieve in education. This show not only highlights that with the younger brother characters but also becomes part of this stereotype of the “model minority.” 

"Fresh Off the Boat '' was heavily noticed and criticized amongst many viewers for its stereotypical comments towards  Asian American minority groups. Most of the accusations  leaned toward how and why Eddie's mother, Jessica, gave off “tiger-mom” traits from the beginning of the series. Jessica character traits are used evidently and are seen to denote a strict Chinese or East Asian mother. Another stereotypical idea arises in this show about how the male gender is specifically always supposed to be “good boys” and this absurdity of such Asian American stereotypes is a result of these stereotypes in mainstream media.