READERS GUIDE

1.   What are some of the Asian stereotypes discussed in Fetishized, and where did they originate from? How are they perpetuated today?

2.   How do Yu’s personal experiences illuminate the broader examples of how Asian women are portrayed in the media?

3.   In the chapter “Geisha,” Yu discusses the book Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden and the 2005 movie based on the book. How do these two pieces of media harmfully perpetuate Asian stereotypes?

4.   Where does the stereotype of the butterfly come from? How does Sung-Hi Lee reclaim this stereotype?

5.   The chapter titled “Not Lucy Liu” details how actress Lucy Liu has argued against critics and proudly proclaims she helped Asian American visibility in film, despite some of her characters leaning into stereotypes on screen. Do you agree with Lucy Liu’s analysis about her career? Why or why not?

6.   Where does the model minority myth come from? How is it an example of a harmful stereotype? Is there such a thing as a good stereotype?

7.   In the description of the book, it says: “No one fetishized Kaila Yu more than she fetishized herself.” After reading Fetishized, do you feel this is true? Why or why not?

8.   How does Yu’s perception of herself and the way she perceives others’ perception—and fetishization—impact how she interacts with romantic interests, friends, and coworkers? How does it impact her mental health? How does this change over time for Yu, especially as she’s looking back on her relationship with her bandmate Jamie?

9.   In the chapter titled “Lolitas,” Yu writes: “Working with men who loved Asian women was the path of least resistance.” Why do you think Yu feels this way?

10. In the chapter titled “A Reckoning,” Yu says: “Internalized racism teaches Asian women they can escape racism through assimilation and their proximity to whiteness.” How do we see Yu assimilate throughout the book? How does the patriarchy lend a hand in contributing to or shaping her feelings and experiences?

11. Yu mentions the 2021 Atlanta spa shooting multiple times throughout the book, powerfully threading together the fetishization and objectification of Asian women with her own experiences and the painful impact of the shooting. Why do you think the 2021 Atlanta spa shooting resonates so deeply with Yu?

12. How does Yu systematically erase herself throughout the book and rebel? How do we see Yu reclaim herself by the end of the book?