As a foreign woman with a Chinese husband, I couldn't help but wonder why we're so rare
When I’m in China, I tend to turn a lot of heads, especially in the countryside — and that’s not just because I’m a foreigner. It’s because I’m often seen holding hands with my Chinese husband.
It’s true — the sight of a foreign woman and Chinese boyfriend or Chinese husband is much rarer than its counterpart, the foreign man and Chinese woman.
If you go to any major city in China, you will invariably run into the foreign man-Chinese woman pairings in any major tourist or shopping destination; not so with foreign women and Chinese men. It’s easy to gauge this reality on the website Candle for Love (CFL), devoted to helping US Americans bring their loved ones over from China. CFL is like a tidal wave of American men in love with Chinese women, with only a rare American woman/Chinese husband surfacing to break the monotony.
There are hardly enough books depicting foreign women with Chinese boyfriends or husbands. Off the top of my head, I can think of Rachel DeWoskin’s Foreign Babes in Beijing: Behind the Scenes of a New China
Several years ago, when my husband enrolled in a New Oriental class in Shanghai for GRE prep, the instructor warned all of the Chinese men: “If you’re going to study abroad, prepare for four lonely years.” The underlying message was, don’t expect to fall in love — but be pleasantly surprised if it happens.
When you have a Chinese husband or boyfriend, sometimes you feel as if you belong to a lonely club. I’m not the only one. One of my dearest e-mail friends, a woman from Germany, once found me on the net because she had a — then — Chinese boyfriend and yearned to find someone to share her experience with.
So I began to wonder — why are there so few Chinese guys and foreign girls becoming couples?
Of course, some of it has its roots in the usual stereotypes — stereotypes in the Western World.
According to Sheridan Prasso’s book, The Asian Mystique: Dragon Ladies, Geisha Girls, & Our Fantasies of the Exotic Orient
If there are some admirable aspects of the portrayals of Asian women in Hollywood and on TV, it’s hard to say the same of the portrayals of Asian men. Rarely have they been depicted with traditionally masculine traits. With a few exceptions, Asian men on screen have been small, sneaky and threatening — or spineless, emasculated wimps, or incompetents who may well be technically proficient in martial arts, but impotent when faced with white man’s superior strength or firepower. Lacking machismo, they almost never get the girl.
The article Sex & the Asian Man also touches on many of Prasso’s observations, including the passionless warrior:
Even today, Asian American men complain that action heroes such as Chow Yun Fat and Jackie Chan rarely get the girl. As Leong, the author and UCLA professor put it: “Asian men can kick butt, but they can’t have a kiss.”
It gets a little more personal in blogs, such as posts titled Us Bitter, Bitter Asian Men or Sucks to be an Asian male.
Still, there’s another perspective.
I’ve had Chinese guys refuse me because they felt, as a traditional man, they could never see themselves married to a foreign girl. However, the subtext is often that foreign women are a dangerous choice — too casual, the temptress, etc — or could not accept a Chinese way of life. Generally, the pressure to split up comes from the family since, after all, in China, marriage is a family affair.
There was one Chinese boyfriend who told me, flat out, that his parents would never accept me. I don’t doubt he loved me in the beginning — but once his family knew, I suspect they made it clear that there was no future in what we had. Even my own husband was first told by his parents that he could be friends with a foreign girl, but not date her. Fortunately, their ideas changed when they met me in person!
On the other hand, there are Chinese men — and their families — who would be happy to have a foreign woman in the family. But there are other complications. For example, my good friend in Hangzhou, Xiao Yu, once told me that some Chinese men cannot overcome their feeling of inferiority — that being an American girl, a citizen of one of the most powerful countries in the world, made my presence somewhat intimidating. According to Xiao Yu, some Chinese men could never believe that such a girl would become their one and only.
And then there are the more unmentionable reasons.
A driver who took me to the Beijing Airport this summer admitted he once had a Russian girlfriend when he was a college student. But he said he was never able to satisfy her (yes, in that way), so they parted. The experience was so traumatic that he never sought another foreign girlfriend again.
On the flip side, I suspect that some foreign women might be unwilling to give Chinese men a chance because of money. Average Chinese men tend not to earn big salaries in China, unless they are, for example, bosses, high-powered execs, or an in-demand talent. And if they are to leave China to go to her country, they will face even more obstacles to earning money — language, culture, prejudices.
Still, despite the odds, sterotypes and other barriers, it does happen that Chinese men and foreign women get together. It happened for me — and a growing number of other women, including bloggers such as the Local Dialect, Lost Laowai, and Wo Ai Ni. On occasion, it even creeps into the news, like this story.
For now, though, I’m just happy to have John, my Chinese husband, in my life. Not because he’s a Chinese man, or because our relationship is “unique” or different. But because I love him.
Are you a foreign woman with a Chinese boyfriend/Chinese husband? Or are you a Chinese man dating or married to a Chinese woman? What’s your take on this? What did I miss? I’d love to hear from you!
Posts Like This One:
- Ask the Yangxifu: How Chinese men can meet foreign women in China
- A Chinese boyfriend/Chinese husband and foreign woman 30 years ago, through “Son of the Revolution”
- Ask the Yangxifu, Travel guides, More posts…Coming up in 2010
- Chapter 16: Foreign Girlfriend or Fascinating Moonlight Tale?
- The emotional yin-yang: Of one calm Chinese husband, and a sensitive American wife
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Hi Rich,
Thanks so much for your comment, and for sharing this website! I’m sure it will be of interest to my readers, so I’m adding it to my links.
I don’t know if my story will help anyone but, I do need a bit of confirmation to move over this road block, and regain my courage.
I think it was a month or 2 ago now that I had a crush on this Vietnamese boy. (Even though this topic seems centered around Chinese men..I’ve never met any, except for this one INCREDIBLE waiter I had back in Hong Kong a couple of years ago. He was sweet, and shy, and very courteous to my dad, and I when we went to the resturant. We even came back a couple of times, because we enjoyed talking with him. BUT this is a story of anyother time ^^;)
Anyways, I had a crush on this Vietnamese boy, and I told my close friend (whom happens to be asian also) about him. After a week or 2 she realised she had the same math class as him, and wanted to see if he would be interested for me. I blatantly refused, so like the good best friend she is, she found a way to humiliate me by figuring a way to drag me to him (even though I was refusing any help whatsoever!), and make me confess. I made a compromise with her: that if I promised to confess to him by myself she’d stop trying to force me to. Well being semi-shy as I am..it took me a good part of 3 weeks to get the courage to tell him.
And so I did. My result…rejection. I didn’t know what the problem is..but I thought maybe it could be because I appear African American? (I’m a Somali American, and cupids’ arrow shoots right through me at the sight of ANY Asian male. ^^)
But after that I began to have doubts that any asian man would find me attractive. I know..I’m not supposed to let this hurt cloud my rational mind..that just because of this ONE time, doesn’t mean it’ll happen again. But it took a lot to get my courage to tell him, and then I got refused..I even had the right mind-set, that I’d be ok, and support him if his parents wanted him to dump me, or if we got stares, and finger points. Maybe I got my hopes too high?
But just a couple of weeks ago my best friend who has his math class said she thinks he likes her. She also said that he didn’t know she was asian about a month ago, but now…I can’t help but think that “does he like her because she’s asian?” I didn’t particutarly have feelings for him until she told me that he might like her that faithful day a couple of weeks ago (or at least I convinced myself I didn’t have feelings). But hearing that just hurt me again, and now I’ve got my eyes set on anyother asian man, but I just can’t recover that last hurt to pursue this new affection.
Anyone have any advice, or comments? They’re greatly appreciated!!
~Yaz
Hi
I’m also married to a Chinese man – have been since 1997. I’m writing a series of articles looking at the lives of the women in his family – my mother-in-law, sisters-in-law and nieces-in-law. If anyone is interested, please take a look. It’s in its early stage, but expect more posts soon.
http://foreignerinthefamily.blogspot.com/
Thanks!
Dear Yaz…
My heart goes out to you, and though I cannot be absolutely certain about what really happened to you from the viewpoint of someone on the scene, I feel compelled to point out two things I learned from my own experiences.
First, most of the Somali people I have encountered were quite attractive and charming. I can twig that you have a wonderful personality, and I’ll bet good money that you turn many more heads than you think when you walk by. It’s not empty flattery, because how your friend behaved may actually confirm the truth of my words.
Though your letter is brief, it is very concise, and everything you said points to a deeply competitive “friend”. Re-read your own letter, and as yourself a few questions, like, would a person who knows and loves me well willfully, and with abundant knowledge of my insecurity, *force* me into an encounter she knows will traumatize and humiliate me… *and* him? This arrangement was obviously intended to achieve the results it did, and with the expected terminal fail, why would a loving friend then “confide” to you that *your* former love interest is now attracted to *her*? If the role were reversed, how would you have felt and behaved? I am thinking, not the same as your un-friend did. According to your own frankly honest and sincere letter, your wise heart sees something your self-doubts do not want you to see… Your “friend” is actually an enemy, and the smart thing to do is the courageous thing… Shower your un-friend with indifference, and find a real friend who think your friendship and trust are more important than a boost to her own weak ego at your expense. You would be pleasantly surprised at how much the upgrade in friend quality can improve your own self-worth.
As for your appeal to Asian men, I know a number of Asian men who would only date “dark ladies”, and they married a black or copper-skinned beauty too. I can assure you this is not an isolated coincidence or a generational thing. As your un-friend well knows, most (Not all!) Asian men are extremely shy about their sexual appeal to ladies of non-Asian races or cultures. I can promise you with absolute certainty that, sans the static from a viciously competitive “go-between”, you’ll be quick to discover that your shy but warm personality is actually quite irresistible, especially when combined with your exotic looks and naturally optimistic mindset . I can clearly read a near-future for you happily snuggling in the shoulder of a handsome Asian man… I have to smile in irony as I firmly assert that an old worn-out adage really applies to you in this case… Just be yourself, and you will be loved for being exactly who and what you are…. Specifically, by Asian men.
From now on, confine yourself to a test that worked for me for years… Firmly commit to the pledge of telling your intended your feelings for him *before* you tell anyone else. If you cannot build up the courage to tell him first, then you are not at a place emotionally where it is safe to confide in someone else. Even a well-intentioned friend will be subjective, and may be tempted to meddle if you do not move as fast as she would. That said, a real friend doesn’t sink the ship and then pose herself as the rescuer and claim the reward. Cut that dead anchor loose, and you will not only move on, you will move upward, where both of you know you belong… A beautiful butterfly must spread her wings… Best of luck and love to you.
Faithfully, Phoenix Dawnsinger
Phoenix, what a generous reply! I could not have said it any better.
Yaz,
I completely agree with Phoenix, that this sounds like a case of sabotage from a friend who is not really your friend. As for Asian men not being interested in dark-skinned women…as Phoenix said, there are definitely Asian men out there who would want to date you. From my experience with Chinese men, the Chinese guys who usually end up dating foreign women of all types tend to be a little more unconventional, willing to buck the traditional ideas the generations of the past may have had about dating/marriage (and even what family says — which was the case for my husband). Indeed, just be yourself, as Phoenix said.
Good luck to you, and hope you can, as my husband often says, “courageously move forward.”
Dear Elliot,
Thanks for sharing your background, and your blog. In the published world, there really is a dearth of voices from foreign women in China who have become so close to the culture, as you have. I applaud your efforts, and added your blog to my “Foreign Women + Chinese Men” links, and will continue to follow you.
To Phoenix and Jocelyn,
Thank you both for your moving words, and wonderful advice!
Re-reading my story, and taking into account what Phoenix said, I’ve realized that maybe I do have a *friend* undeserving of me. I’ve probably unconsciously over-looked that possiblility, as I like to see the good in people, and not judge them for false crimes which they seemingly cannot (but they can) commit. Friendship and kindness can make one turn a blind eye to others’ sometimes. Although it’s a good thing to be kind, but just not to the point of naivety, which I am mostly certainly guilty of. ^^;
I will heed your advice, and cut my dead anchor loose. If not it being a block in my road to success, then for it not being a faithful, and honest anchor.
Once again thank you both for the words of wisdom, and I wish you the best, as I will certainly try mine to correct this situation.
~Always, Yaz
Yaz and Jocelyn…
*Blush*!!!!!!!!! I was just shooting from the hip. Thank you for your kind words! Lots of love and luck to both of you!
Faithfully, Phoenix
Thank you for your article, Jocelyn. I have been dating my Chinese American boyfriend for two years now, and we plan to be engaged within the year. I still haven’t met many members of his family, particularly his grand parents, but this article makes me feel better about meeting them. He’s warned me that I may not ever gain the approval of the oldest members of his family, but they’ll always be polite. His family immigrated from China about 30 years ago, so they are very traditional. At first, his mother didn’t like the idea of her eldest son dating a Caucasian girl, but she has really opened up to me and given me a chance. I do hope to earn the affection of his grand parents some day, but I suppose we all need to start somewhere.
Next semester, I am going to start learning Chinese through a Mandarin course offered in my university. I am hoping that learning his family’s language will help matters and will enable me to speak for myself when we travel to Hong Kong.
Thanks for your comment, Turtle, and for sharing! I’m glad my article helped you prepare for meeting your boyfriend’s family. That is fantastic you’re learning Chinese — this will definitely help build bridges with the family. As I found, once my husband’s, then boyfriend’s, parents (particularly his father) found I could speak good Mandarin, they opened up a lot more, and were willing to accept the idea of a foreign daughter-in-law.
Hope you’ll keep me posted on how things go. Good luck!
I suppose there are several older posts from before I started reading your blog. I stumbled upon this one today and I can’t stop looking at the picture. Your dress is absolutely beautiful and unique. Is it from here or from China? It’s gorgeous!