A Korean Frenchwoman kicks off a discussion
of ethnic origins
Who was
that East Asian-looking female face which appeared in the photo of the
ministers appointed by France’s new President, Francois Hollande? It was a
question that intrigued many Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese,
particularly when the list of ministers’ names showed no sign of obvious Asian
origin.
The
answer was not long in coming but has had a salutary impact in some parts of
the region, most of all in Korea. The woman in question was Fleur Pellerin, who
turns out to have been born to Korean parents but was given up for adoption
very early in life to a French couple. She is now entirely French in every
other way, speaks no Korean and appears to take her origin as a matter of fact
rather than either pride or shame.
For
Koreans, Pellerin is a reminder of two aspects of their society that most think
need changing. The first is the history of giving up babies for adoption
overseas. This may have seemed unobjectionable when the country was poor but
has continued long after there was any obvious welfare need. Most specifically
most of those adopted overseas have been female, reflecting the national gender
bias which has produced a serious imbalance which in turn is now resulting in
Korean males getting mail-order brides from elsewhere – mainly China and
Vietnam.
The
second is the relative racial tolerance now found in at least some parts of
Europe, including France and Britain, compared with what prevails in much of
east Asia where immigration is generally rejected, despite continuing very low
birth rates, and immigration of brown-skinned Asians to the paler regions of
the northeast is looked on with horror.
Many,
maybe most, Japanese, Chinese and Koreans cling to theories which somehow link
genes to race and race to nationality which makes acceptance of people who
might look a little different impossible and puts a premium on descent. The
existence of a distinct Korean-origin community in Japan is widely accepted by
all parties even if it means that some discrimination continues against those
with Korean ancestry even if they are totally indistinguishable from “native”
Japanese other than inspecting their family tree. Japan is finally having to
face up to its falling birthrate, as Asia Sentinel reported in May.
In
China most people identify Han with China in both a genetic and a cultural
sense – even as the genetic make-up actually varies widely from north to south.
This in turn makes dealing with minorities an endless source of friction. The
same applies in Thailand where for long many minorities were not accepted as a
part of the nation even though they lived within its borders. Myanmar still has
problems recognizing the Muslim, dark-skinned Rohingya as citizens.
Thus
genetic notions which result in social exclusion are not merely a barrier to
acceptance of people of foreign origin, they create added problems for any
country with minorities if those are treated as somehow biologically rather
than simply culturally different.
Some
migrant communities themselves add to the problem. For example, many people of
whole or part Chinese descent in Southeast Asia cling to pride in their genetic
roots long after they have lost all cultural or family links to China and have
been integrated into other societies other than favoring other once-Chinese in
business, a tendency which creates indigenous resentment.
Such
issues are especially sensitive now in Southeast Asia given the rise of China
as an economic and military power. People of Chinese descent badly need to
beware of displaying divided loyalties. Basing political loyalties on genes is
dangerous game.
It has
yet to be seen whether immigration of foreign brides to Japan, Korea and Taiwan
results in discrimination against their offspring. It may not so long as the
brides come from countries such as Vietnam and China with similar physical
characteristics. But given current attitudes there is likely to be strong
discrimination if these countries (and China which has the biggest shortage of
young women) have to go further afield to find brides, to the regions with
gender balance – and browner skin.
Preference
for the whitest possible skin is found throughout northeast Asia, in parts of
Southeast Asia and even among many in India. Just look at the models used in
advertising in Thailand and India, for example, and compare the skin tones to
the average of the local population. Such attitudes will have to change, at
least in those societies needing migrants and anxious to be engaged with the
outside world.
Great
civilizations have always thrived on religious and ethnic tolerance. Today,
globalization and demography make tolerance all the more vital for nations
which wants to succeed. Inadvertently, Pellerin may prove not Korea’s gift to
France but France’s gift to Korea and east Asia.
Asia
Sentinel
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