“Can I have one large green Thai tea with a ham and cheese croissant please?” From raving every weekend getting blackout drunk to decking out their entire closet with Uniqlo and Essential hoodies, SoCal Asians have started to dominate the Asian community’s representation. Thousands of copy-and-paste videos have circulated the internet, in which many Asian creators make content on what a SoCal Asian does in their everyday lives. It may seem relatable and fun, but recent controversies have stemmed from this trend. Although lots of people enjoy living this life, other platforms have stepped up and talked about their experiences of being Asian outside of the SoCal region. They shared experiences of harsh racism, and were excluded from the community itself. Many speculate that this problem is not just from outsiders, but rather from the daunting expectations found within.
For context, let us first define what the actual term of SoCal Asian is. A SoCal Asian is exactly what it presumes; an Asian living in Southern California. The foundation of this term, however, is rooted with many stereotypes—owning a white Lexus, boba 24/7, Valorant addicts, Keshi or Illenium die-hard fans, Seaside bakery enthusiasts, ABGs or ABBs, Wave to Earth listeners, and the never-ending allegations of cheating on their significant other. Platforms like @miserybymen explain how the term is not representative of actual Asian culture, yet being made the face of the community. Sissy, the creator of the account, shares her experience of being mocked for simply “not fitting the stereotypes.” Now, SoCal Asians are not privileged, but instead part of a bigger Asian population, making representation more common.
The reality outside of California is that other Asian communities live in predominantly white spaces instead of huge Asian neighborhoods. This means the culture is not mainstream in those rural cities, but rather seen as abnormal. So no, you can not find fifty Kevin Nguyens in a small area in Nebraska like you would in Irvine, California. The main problem is that some SoCal Asians have a superiority complex. They look down on other Asians out of state, making those communities feel as if they are “not Asian enough.” An episode from the “949 Podcast,” a platform where four creators talk about Asian pop culture, showed one specific host talking about feeling superior to other Asians—specifically out of the West Coast. The show immediately received backlash for their ignorance as small creators from all over the US shared their perspectives of being Asian living in a white-dominated state. This exact chain of unacceptance has dug a hole in the community, where racists and harmful stereotypes deepen the wound every day.
Another highlight is the SoCal content itself. Showing off these stereotypes has bled into social media, where POV videos of being “a SoCal Asian” flow out faster than clips of movies stitched with subway surfers. The overused punchlines and “dating an ABG/ABB” plots have been squeezed dry, making it harder to find unique content. These videos then rise to the surface and take the face of the Asian community, plummeting diverse entertainment that breaks stereotypical norms. The joke was funny at first, but now it seems that the main outcome is perceiving SoCal Asians to be elite, leaving the rest of the community behind the curtains. CHS sophomore Summer Calimlim shares her insight.
“I find the videos funny because of the stereotype itself, but I can see how some people could possibly get offended by it,” Calimlim said. “Personally, I am not offended by it and I just find it funny to watch. I think there are other videos; it is just that SoCal Asians are somewhat more trendy right now.”
It is perfectly fine to enjoy boba, raving, Stüssy, etc. But pushing a monolith of having to be “that Asian” and making it your entire personality is not. Communities should be building each other up, not tearing down the unique aspects to make individuals feel unwelcome in their skin. So no, let us not go to Seaside.
