Examining the reality as vs. ideal of multiculturalism through writing by Asian Americans, Chae (Korean language, George Mason U., Fairfax, Virginia) distinguishes between politically quiescent
and politically conscious writings. He categorizes writers as either showing an awareness of unequal power relations along racial/ethnic minority lines, or as kowtowing to such inequities.
Writers whose works are critiqued as fitting stereotypes of exotic others in the context of Asian Americans as exploited cheap labor or a model minority include Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club and
Maxine Hong Kingston's The Warrior Woman. Those counted in the "beyond ethnicity" camp include Fae Myenne Ng's Bone and Ruth Ozeki's My Year of Meats. Annotation 穢2008 Book News, Inc.,
Portland, OR (booknews.com)
