Hashtags like blackfishing and asianfishing have allowed social media users to call out celebrities, trends, and other users for appropriating cultures or stereotyping. Blackfishing can be defined as “the process of borrowing or parroting embodying the aesthetics of blackness.” And more specifically, “a form of racism that depicts black people as stereotypes and/or portrays black culture as a product.” In today’s social climate, the aspect of directly benefitting from another’s culture to make money or gain a large social following is essential to this definition. 

Kim Kardashian is an appointed ‘trendsetter’ of pop culture. She’s risen to fame, simply put, because of her fashion sense and big butt, but many have questioned the role black culture has played in her fame. Although she’s been called out numerous times for appropriating black culture, many still look to her to see the new ‘trends’ in fashion and aesthetics. Unlike Kim, countless social media users have been ‘canceled’ for blackfishing or asianfishing. Still, the meaning has blurred as the term/idea becomes more mainstream. Tiktok creators who identify as the race they portray are being canceled for blackfishing and asianfishing, which seems to be against the point. 

Tiktok videos:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRunqoaH/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRun5H1c/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRuna2jx/

When women of color don’t match the beauty standards of their race, they face backlash, and the policing of facial features only enforces this.  

So, what is race? Spoiler science can’t define it, but it obviously exists, so what is it? Race is more socially constructed through culture, shared experiences, and history than biology. Race, as we see, it is just a combination of features in certain groups of people, but they aren’t mutually exclusive. That’s how people of different races can have the same skin tone and eye shape, and people of the same race can have different facial features. We can’t ignore the role representation and the cosmetic surgery industry have played in defining these beauty standards. 

Kim’s new look has sent ripples through my social media platforms that ‘whiteness’ is back in. Her blonde hair, weight loss, and noticeably smaller butt have spawned this conclusion. And although not Kim’s fault. Her change in aesthetics has aligned with a new idea that BBL fashion is trashy. I am not advocating for BBls, but seeing big butts and boobs and boobs as trashy seems extremely familiar, especially regarding women of color. Recently Megan Thee wore a Mugler piece, and some users highlighted it as an example of ‘trashy BBL fashion.’ Megan, seen as a body positivity icon, has not had any cosmetic work, and once again, a trend is being used to police the features of women of color.

Questions

  • Have you seen these hashtags?
  • Can you think of other celebrities who’ve been accused of asian or black fishing? 
  • Do you think ‘trashy BBL fashion’ will be harmful to the policing of the bodies of women of color?
  • Do you think the rise of k-pop has had an effect on asian fishing?
  • should we keep policing?