Would it be hard for a black woman to study abroad in an asian country?

Question

I'm asking this just because I had all these really high hopes about studying abroad in Japan or South Korea in my junior year, and I guess I was a bit naive or something until my mom mentioned something to me about a "bit" of racism in certain a lot of Asian countries. I've researched some stuff, and from what I've seen, its not unheard of due to a variety of reasons, some of which I kind of understand (simple nature of a homogeneous society) and others which just bother me. Despite this I can't think of any other place I would rather go, yet now I'm feeling really apprehensive. Is there anyone who can give me some more information on what I can expect?

Answer 1

I'll break my answer into two parts--the negatives and the positives.

In terms of the former, both Korea and to a lesser extent Japan have culturally institutionalized racism. Korea in particular has simply been so isolated in terms of international relations that it often views all foreigners--not only blacks--in a negative light. Their primary source of "information" about people of other nations is often movies and other entertainment, which obviously present a skewed perspective. Being one of the most homogeneous nations in the world, Korea simply hasn't had that much exposure to other cultures, and it shows in their conceptions of those cultures. Compounding the problem is the fact that it is still the most Confucian of all the Asian nations, which essentially means it bases all of its social relationships on a hierarchy in which those below you are considered inferior in one sense. The bottom line is that foreigners, and blacks or other non-caucasians in particular, though often said to be outside the social structure, are just as often placed in the bottom rung.

In terms of specific examples, I've encountered situations in which ten Koreans have stepped onto the subway, moved to sit down, then turned and walked away upon seeing that I was a foreigner--despite the fact that the only open seat was next to me and I was dressed in a suit. In several instances I've seen children laugh at pictures of blacks and say, "Monkeys!" When queried as to where they learned that, they claimed their parents had told them. One of my friends had his Korean girlfriend verbally and physically assaulted by an older Korean man simply because she was with a foreigner. The Korean press often intentionally misreports the news to place foreigners in a negative light; one case recently involved a report citing an assault on a student by a teacher at a foreign language school, but the article omitted the fact that it was committed by a Korean instructor. There are several more examples I could give, but that should give a general idea of what you could potentially encounter.

A few friends who have worked in Japan have cited somewhat similar incidents, but they seem to exist on a far lesser scale, perhaps due to the fact that Japan has embraced Western culture to a greater extent.

However, despite how all of this may sound, there are often just as many positives to balance the scales. Despite the racism that exists on a cultural level, Koreans and Japanese are both willing to judge you as an individual. It certainly may be difficult at times to deal with small things such as the looks you'll occasionally get in public, but you'll also encounter many people who are very eager to get to know you, regardless of the color of your skin. You'll actually find that many of them are incredibly loyal and generous in many ways. Furthermore, the institutionalized racism has slowly begun to change, particularly among the younger generations. (This is even more accurate in Japan's case.) I've met few young Koreans and Japanese who aren't willing to change their minds about foreigners after spending time with them. Finally, you'll have a huge advantage in terms of your reasons for being there. In all honesty, one part of the reason why foreigners are often looked down upon--again in Korea in particular--is the behavior of those who come here to teach English. Without attempting to understand the cultural differences, many people simply earn as much money as they can, drink, party and leave. Essentially, some of these foreigners make all of the rest look bad.

In any case, the short answer is that both countries do have racism, and I do think that it is more overt than what you'd encounter in the West. However, your reason for being there, as well as the changing ideas, definitely shouldn't rule either country out as a possibility for study. Personally, I'd recommend Japan, as it tends to be more modern and open to foreigners of all types. I hope this helps, and good luck with your decision.

Answer 2

hello, i do not think that it will be hard for you to study in an asian country as in fact, most of us are very friendly! i am asian and definitely not racist at all! Especially in Japan where some variety tv shows have blacks as their special guests!

Answer 3

I'm sorry I don't really know but I don't think it's hard. I'm an Asian and I don't think most of them, including me, racist. So I think you've got a pretty chance !!

Good luck !!!

Answer 4

There are many US military bases in Japan and South Korea.  Maybe if you found a college close to one of these locations, you may not have the racism issues because there are black men and women in these locations already.  Just a thought...