Beneath the white gaze: Strategic self-Orientalism among Chinese Australians

Abstract

This article analyses the ethno-cultural identities of Chinese Australian professionals through a postcolonial lens. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 21 participants, it explores how they engaged in self-Orientalism; casting themselves as exotic commodities for the benefit of white people and institutions. In particular, they enacted Chinese stereotypes through ‘mythtapping’ and ‘mythkeeping’ in order to secure recognition under the white gaze. As mythtappers, professionals presented themselves as custodians of an ancient and mysterious culture that offered organizational wisdoms for ‘the West.’ As mythkeepers, the professionals allayed white anxieties by surrendering themselves to white Australians as pathways into their communities. However, the professionals’ Orientalized identities are not passively determined, but are in some cases tactically and strategically resisted through ‘mythbusting.’ The article contributes to postcolonial theorizing by demonstrating how imperialist ideologies constrain the lives of people beyond the colonizer/colonized dichotomy and by illuminating the potential for their resistance against Orientalization.

Understanding the influence of corporate social responsibility practices on impulse buying

“…However, H3 is rejected. As a matter of fact, Chinese people do not accept the philanthropy or different exercises of this sort (Liu, ). They just accept and trust in their local government (Zhao & Hu, ).…”

Identity work in organizations and occupations: Definitions, theories, and pathways forward

“…For instance, in a study of Moroccan and Turkish female Muslim entrepreneurs in the Netherlands, Essers and Benschop () found that informants had to negotiate multiple conflicting demands coming from their religion, culture, and work. Similarly, Liu () articulated how Chinese Australian professionals played into their ethno‐cultural identities by presenting themselves as exotic commodities, which helped them gain recognition with their White colleagues. There is less research on identity work concerning other social categories at work such as sexual identity.…”

Neo-colonial dynamics in global professional service firms: a periphery perspective

“…While Said's work has primarily been applied to explore the discursive realm of international business and its representational practices, scholars have for some time pointed to a need for analyses of orientalism to also show its roles and expressions in the material realm (Srinivas 2013). Studies addressing such calls show how the orientalist discourse allows Western business leaders to understand themselves as ideals to be copied (McKenna 2011) but also how migrant professionals 'self-orientalise' to establish a role for themselves (Liu 2017).…”