4 ms·

Asian men historically have been desexualized. The show is relying on that stereotype. https://youtu.be/2k82hIqd1Os https://youtu.be/2k82hIqd1Os

by ginger2016 4y ago

kelnos 4y ago
Raj is an Indian male who is desexualized. Sheldon is a white male who is desexualized. Leonard is a white male who is desexualized. Harold is a white male who is oversexualized in creepy ways. And I'm not even sure "desexualized" is the right word. With both Raj and Leonard, at least, I remember there were many plot points about their difficulty with women. "Desexualized" to me would mean that they weren't even seen as people who are interested in sex or relationships -- that is, their status as having sexuality at all was minimized and never touched upon -- which was clearly not the case for either of them. In any case, "relying on a stereotype" does not make something racist. When I watched the show (admittedly not for long; I probably got tired of it after a season or two), yes, there were certainly jokes that only worked because Raj was Indian, or Harold was Jewish, or Sheldon was neuro-atypical, but for the most part it was the stereotype "nerdy people are awkward in all sorts of social situations, especially when nerdy heterosexual men interact with women". Being Indian, or Jewish, or probably-autistic were secondary characteristics that gave them more color as people.
- Gordonjcp 4y ago
  Sheldon's not neuro-atypical, he's what neurotypical writers thing neuro-atypical (not sure that's even a word, but it's good) are like. Sheldon could be more accurately diagnosed as "a total pain in the arse".
delecti 4y ago
I think the butt of the joke regarding their ineptitude with women is their being nerds, not their individual demographics (Indians, Jews, or Autistics).
- mcv 4y ago
  That is my primary problem with the show. It's often more making fun of nerds than making nerd jokes (though they have those too, fortunately). It's pretty low-brow humour for a show about smart people.
exodust 4y ago
In the episode mentioned in article (Series 3, Ep 21), Raj gets the girl in the end. Leonard and Howard miss out. Raj embraces the role-playing sex game with scientist woman. The scene fades out implying they have a night of sex and wine. Where exactly is your "desexualisation"?

Asian men historically have been desexualized. The show is relying on that stereotype. https://youtu.be/2k82hIqd1Os https://youtu.be/2k82hIqd1Os

kelnos 4y ago

Raj is an Indian male who is desexualized. Sheldon is a white male who is desexualized. Leonard is a white male who is desexualized. Harold is a white male who is oversexualized in creepy ways. And I'm not even sure "desexualized" is the right word. With both Raj and Leonard, at least, I remember there were many plot points about their difficulty with women. "Desexualized" to me would mean that they weren't even seen as people who are interested in sex or relationships -- that is, their status as having sexuality at all was minimized and never touched upon -- which was clearly not the case for either of them. In any case, "relying on a stereotype" does not make something racist. When I watched the show (admittedly not for long; I probably got tired of it after a season or two), yes, there were certainly jokes that only worked because Raj was Indian, or Harold was Jewish, or Sheldon was neuro-atypical, but for the most part it was the stereotype "nerdy people are awkward in all sorts of social situations, especially when nerdy heterosexual men interact with women". Being Indian, or Jewish, or probably-autistic were secondary characteristics that gave them more color as people.

Gordonjcp 4y ago
Sheldon's not neuro-atypical, he's what neurotypical writers thing neuro-atypical (not sure that's even a word, but it's good) are like. Sheldon could be more accurately diagnosed as "a total pain in the arse".

delecti 4y ago

I think the butt of the joke regarding their ineptitude with women is their being nerds, not their individual demographics (Indians, Jews, or Autistics).

mcv 4y ago
That is my primary problem with the show. It's often more making fun of nerds than making nerd jokes (though they have those too, fortunately). It's pretty low-brow humour for a show about smart people.

exodust 4y ago

In the episode mentioned in article (Series 3, Ep 21), Raj gets the girl in the end. Leonard and Howard miss out. Raj embraces the role-playing sex game with scientist woman. The scene fades out implying they have a night of sex and wine. Where exactly is your "desexualisation"?