If ladies currently self-identifying as ABGs to recover a feeling of autonomy and range by themselves from prevalent “Asian Bible Girl” stereotype, then answers of the male peers–like hair which collapsed the definition of into a sexualized hip-hop movie– prove a main schism inside operate of reclamation. Possibly Asian infant Girls wanted to be diametrically against Asian Bible women, nevertheless they wound up surrounding instead. As Fang said, reclamation became reappropriation, which became repression. In the end, had beenn’t the Asian kid woman vs. Asian Bible Girl unit merely a contemporary inform on Renee Tajima-Pena’s hypersexual Dragon Lady vs. submissive Lotus bloom dichotomy ? The epithets moved, however the essence remained alike.

I was thinking lots about Dragon Females and China Dolls before I decided, ultimately, to wait the down show.

Nothing of my friends consented to join me personally. “I’m heading so I can figure out, for good, tips explain an ABG,” I texted one of those. “Lol,” she reacted. The get together was hosted in Chinatown Square, a-squat black colored strengthening in Philadelphia that houses a pan-Asian products hallway. I submit through cup doorways stickered with peeling adverts: Pleased hour 4-6 on weekdays! Find out about our ripple teas respect cards!

Around, the people in attendance greatly outnumber the ladies. I spy suede dresses, knee-high shoes, fur vets, colored locks, but nothing that unique, nothing at all such as the “ABG improvement” YouTube videos. The definition of ABG seems considerably amorphous than typical, like an Instagram filtration in place of an identifier. It’s analogous to contacting yourself a nerd or a jock in high school–a default to cluster believe for comfort, in order to avoid nuance.

Anyone eye one another from throughout the room but will not diverge using their fortress of buddies; it’s like a secondary school party, except just about everyone is eastern Asian. I’m among the many best unpaired people in the area. A boy sporting khaki shorts and a button-down ways me personally and things to the notebook inside my give. “Are you are antisocial tonight?” The guy smiles such that shows he believes he’s getting pleasant. His name is Jake Moon. He or she is 25 and he laughs as I ask what their definition of an ABG try.

“An ABG is simply an Asian girl who’s standard,” according to him. “She pursue the cultural stereotypes about from personal obligation.” A team of women passes, and Moon’s look lingers using one of those. This lady dyed gothic tresses ripples as she tosses her head. We query if he would name her an ABG, and he contemplates for a while. “Hard to express.” He tilts his mind. “Precisely Why? Do you think you’re an ABG?”

Issue surprises me personally. I look at exactly what I’m putting on, the non-heeled footwear paired with the cardigan and skirt.

We laugh and shake my mind. But back once again in the home, i do believe of Moon’s concern once more while I press use Chow Mane’s musical video. The world bursts to life: three Asian women sitting at a table plagued by wine flutes and gray Goose containers. Between taking selfies and biting into berries, girls wave their own lengthy acrylic fingernails and news. Mane sits behind them, half-watching and half-preening towards cam as he raps: “All black whenever she venture out / Brown locks turned golden-haired today / Eyeliner together with the wings on ’em / Tattoo somethin’ Chinese on ’em / Finally weekend in Vegas, this week in Koreatown / in the future had gotten a festival, month next she got myself in town.”

The video closes, and I’m leftover watching my personal reflection throughout the notebook display screen. Perhaps my personal answer to Moon actually requires already been: “No, i’dn’t phone me an ABG, but somebody else could.”