THE AMERASIAN PARADOX

1. THEAMERASIAN PARADOX Dr. P.C. Kutschera, Ph.D Prof. Jose Maria G. Pelayo III, MASD Philippine Amerasian Research Center Systems Plus College Foundation Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines (NOTE: Research paper and power point presented at the 2013 On Line Conference on Multidisciplinary Social Sciences 29-31 March 2013 sponsored by the Australian International Cultural and Education Institute (AICEI), Sydney, AU)

2. Introduction • Multiple anecdotal accounts and a thin body of empirical research on an estimated 250,000 biracial military Amerasians in the Philippines, indicates significant past and present stigmatization and discrimination, particularly Amerasians of African descent. However, a segment of Filipino Amerasians, females with pronounced Caucasian features, comprise a “paradoxical exception.” • The abandoned progeny of U.S. servicemen and corporate military contractor and government male workers who long occupied permanent bases(and whose mothers were Filipina nationals), African Amerasians and to a lessor extent Anglo Amerasians are targets of intense name-calling and verbal harassment. This commences at an early age, and often transforms into a lifetime of socioeconomic marginalization, psychosocial risk and stress, and susceptibility to psychopathology and mental disorder. • Kutschera (2010), using the Australian developed DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales), in a 3-year case study of Amerasians from the former Clark air base in Angeles, found that 62% of respondents showed severe levels of anxiety, depression or stress. A similar percentage presented the same high rate for psychosomatic illness or complaints.

3. Core Hypothesis • Within the military Filipino Amerasian diaspora there exists a body of adolescent and young adult women (ages 16-39) possessing characteristics of naturally light skin and pronounced and attractive Caucasian features. This is often described in common Filipino parlance as the “Mestiza” or “Tisay” look. These mixed-race women appear to have broken away from traditional, stigmatizing patterns directed against both African and Anglo Amerasians by mainstream Filipinos. • Skin whiteness, prized and aggressively promoted in mass Filipino media and evidenced by the incredible popularity of skin whitening lotions sought by Filipina nationals, is a social phenomena, that has accrued to the socioeconomic betterment and popular acceptance of young Anglo Amerasian women. Hence the emergence of the female “Anglo Amerasian Paradox,” or the ready acceptance of an expanding segment of Amerasians who have gained easy reception and acceptance and achieved greater material promise or gain as they enter adulthood – in stark contrast to the mass of the remaining Amerasian diaspora that continues as an economically disadvantaged, stunted and socially marginalized cohort.

4. Literature Review • A comprehensive, albeit abbreviated literature review focused on four primary background areas related to the military Filipino Amerasian diaspora: (a) paucity of extant empirical and evidence-based research available on the specific topics of stigmatized, impoverished and at risk military Amerasians; there are more substantial and developed literatures available for certain Pan Amerasian counterparts such as Koreans and Vietnamese, (b) some focus and analysis on two of the mere handful of contemporary socioeconomic, psychosocial and mental health studies relating to Amerasians in the Philippines {i.e., Connaco-Gastardo & Sobritchea (1999) and Kutschera (2010)}, (c) a basic definition and brief examination of the use of the term “paradox” in contemporary social sciences research (Gibbs, 1997) and (Renn, 2000) , and (d) a brief examination of Filipino (i.e., Lago, (2012; Lipena, 2010) and mainland East Asian literature (Li, et al., 2008) as it relates to the phenomena of the desirability of pale complexion, white skin and the popularity of commercial sale of skin whitening lotions and creams throughout the Philippines and the Asia Pacific; some authors contend this dates to the 19th Century era of Western colonization of Asia Pacific locales.

5. Methodology • This is a qualitative research, multiple-case,“pilot” study focusing on five first generation female Anglo Amerasians, ages 21-29 (median age 22), primarily queried on whether they believed their origins as White skin toned, biracial physical features and personal demeanors have either helped or hindered their social acceptance and reception in modern Philippine society. • The sample was drawn from an upwardly mobile cohort made up of students and graduates of Systems Plus College Foundation, a rapidly expanding, private, not-profit four year bachelors and graduate degree granting institution in West Central Luzon with colleges ,schools and departments ranging from computer technology and engineering to social work and criminology. • Sample participants were purposively selected. They were originally screened to answer whether they specifically felt their Amerasian origins overall aided and in fact enhanced their human and social progress – one of the prime tenets of the study hypothesis and a primary characteristic of the purposive sampling technique. (Engel & Schutt, 2009) • A biographical data questionnaire and semi-structured, open-ended interview guide were the information gathering instruments. Respondents were asked questions ranging from their experience with name-calling, verbal harassment and stigmatization as young people to personal assessments of their socioeconomic and cultural status in modern Filipino society.

6. Results & Findings • Generally, interviews with the five participants (two undergraduate students in education and tourism respectfully, an airline flight attendant, a p/t tutor and secretary and a psychology counselor) found familiar or related conditions, themes, situations and life circumstances. Similar to many African and Anglo respondents interviewed in the Conaco-Gastardo & Sobritchea (1999) and Kutschera (2010) studies, participants self-reported they were sometimes, if not often sexually harassed, not necessary because of being female or in a gender situational sense. More often they were judged or viewed as voluptuous, sex objects, or subjects of conspicuous attention, particularly by males unknown to them, acquaintances, friends, even close family members. • Secondarily, and somewhat surprisingly, they were objectified by women friends or acquaintances who may have envied them for their Caucasian like or mestiza looks and the attention these features generated from males or women alike. This began to become more pronounced in the years of puberty and as females commenced the dramatic physical ,mental and emotional metamorphosis from late childhood to early adolescence.

7. Findings & Results • All subjects reported being objectified and often identifying such objectification reserved for Amerasian counterparts. Simultaneously, many confirmed observation of claims of testimonials to stigmatization or discrimination against both African and Anglo Amerasians or themselves, while growing up. In some cases interviewees confirmed claims of respondents in the Kutschera (2010) Filipino Amerasian stigmatization study which found that sometimes harassment episodes became so severe they led to physical confrontation and violence . • Additionally, participants maintained that they were sometimes held up for ridicule in school days for being Amerasian, as much because of their physical looks as for the oft spoken stereotype and general belief among mainlander Filipinos, that most mothers of Amerasians were prostituted women or sex industry laborers.. • Most dramatically, most all participants reported that general harassment , name- calling, stigmatization and discrimination rather dramatically began to recede as females entered adolescent years, when they began to mature after first blush of puberty and the social concern over their possible origin as offspring of sex industry worker mothers settled into the past or was never again mentioned..

8. Results & FindingsThemes • Sample participants reported distinct advantages with Caucasian physical features (pale skin, lighter than black hair color, pleasing facial features & expressions) evoking praise from Filipino mainlanders & foreign males. • Dramatic fall off in name-calling, sexual harassment and episodes of stigma & discrimination as they grew into adolescence & adulthood. • Modeling offers, in a beauty contestant crazed culture, are frequent. Some participants have already modeled commercially and have their own modeling portfolios or agents. • Vigorous and rewarding social lives. Most respondents report it easy to enter into social relationships, date, and enjoy a social whirl consisting of event invitations, night club hoping, party going and hitting the bar scene. • Most feel their mixed-heritage, biracial Amerasian mestiza looks have opened doors not only in their college careers, but portend positive opportunities for career and personal financial advancement in the years ahead..

9. Discussion/Social Implications I • Findings generally uphold the core assertion of the female “Anglo Amerasian Paradox” from the standpoint that - within the age sample selected (ages 19-29) –early adulthood Amerasians with Caucasian and popular mestiza look physical features and demeanor, are held up for admiration, respect and a fair likelihood of either having benefited, or having the potential to benefit socioeconomically, from such approbation. They appear to be treated with pronounced disparity and advantage than the highly stigmatized, impoverished and at risk circumstances common to many of their Amerasian counterparts, both African and Anglo. • Whether this age cohort compromises merely a “niche group” benefitting temporarily given their youthful and most desired mestiza look has not been answered in this study. What is needed is a study capable of answering longevity or longitudinally-based questions. For example, does the perceived Anglo Amerasian Paradox hold up under the test of time? Will the reaction and advantage for female Anglos be the same at age 50 it is at age 25? Or, will the observation of the late World War II hero and French President Charles DeGaulle hold to be true. DeGaulle is reported to have made the following remark when asked his advice on the longevity of political treaties. “Treaties,…are like girls and roses, they last while they last.” (Good Reads, 2013).cl

10. Discussion/Social Implications II • Indeed, a more extensive research study controlling for numerous variables including precise information on per capita and family incomes, education levels, more than one geographical source for sample participants and a build in longevity control feature could conceivably result in a sudden and unexpected result similar to what occurred to Anglo Amerasians in this study. – an abrupt turnaround in fortunes as occurred when Anglo Amerasians entered young adulthood and their fortunes exponentially improved. • Indeed, another question left unanswered by the study is a more precise and detailed explanation as to why fortunes and perceptions of female Anglos changed so precipitously as they entered early adulthood?. Obviously, one reason may be that stereotypical concern over whether all mothers of Amerasian were sex industry laborers appeared to lose its credibility with this age cohort. • The study strongly suggests that there may be optimism for the easier integration of second generation female Anglo Amerasians into the mainstream and essentially pluralistic Filipino society as a whole. This indication may mode well, at least, for a segment of the larger military Amerasian diaspora in the archipelago faced with greater challenges of social assimilation and acceptance.

11. Recommendations/Conclusions • A substantially expanded and larger study sample to investigate evidence of existence of the female Amerasian Paradox is needed with some of the following features: (a) a larger sample in the range of 200 to 300 participants drawn from various locations inside and around the AMO (Angeles, Manila, Olongapo) Amerasian Triangle, (b) a larger probability study sample employing mixed-methodology features including a detailed survey questionnaire with narrative analysis (qualitative) and statistical analysis (quantitative) features, (c) a similar study comprised of a male Anglo Amerasian component, given that there may be a likelihood of related or replicated life situations accruing to male Anglo Amerasians in the Philippines, and (d) performing a similar study among second generation Anglo Amerasians in the Philippines of which there are scores of thousands that have been reputed to be recipients of stigma endured by their forbearers. • Expansion of the study scope to investigate the paradox phenomena in other Pan Amerasian diasporas and enclaves in the Western Pacific Basin, most notably South Korea, Japan and Okinawa . There are significant numbers of Amerasians alive with U.S. troops, and military contractor and government employees stationed at these locales today.

12. References • Engel, R.J. & Schutt, R. K. (2009). The practice of research in social work (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage • Gastardo-Connaco, C. & Sobritchea , C.I. (1999). Filipino Amerasians: Living in the margins. Diliman,Quezon City, RP: University of the Philippines Center for Women’s Studies Foundation & Pearl S. Buck International. • Gibbs, J.T. (1997). African-American suicide: A cultural paradox. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior 27(1). 68-79. • Good Reads (2013). General Charles de Gaulle quotes. Retrieved from http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/490153.Charles_de_Gaulle • Kutschera, P.C. Stigmatization, psychosocial and core mental health symptomatology among Amerasians in the Philippines: A multiple-case study. (Doctoral dissertation: Walden University, USA). 2010. Retrieved from www.AmerasianResearch.org/dissertation • Lago, A. (2012, July). The semantics of mestiza. GMA (Manila) News TV Online Website. Retrieved from http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/267061/lifestyle/culture/the-semantics-of-mestizo • Lapena, C.A. (2010, January). Dissecting the pinoy white skin obsession. GMA (Manila) News TV Online Website. Retrieved from http://gmanetwork.com/news/story/182773/lifestyle/dissecting-the-pinoy-white-skin-obsession • Li, E.P.H., Min, H.J., Belk, R.W., Kimura, J. & Bahl, S. (2008). Skin lightening and beauty in four Asian cultures. Advances in Consumer Education, 35. 444-449. • . Renn, K. A. (2000, April). Tilting at windmills: The paradox of researching mixed-race. Paper presented at • the annual meeting of the American Education Research Association, New Orleans, LA USA.

13. AMERASIAN PARADOX Dr. PC Kutschera, Ph.D Prof. Jose Maria G. Pelayo III, MASD Philippine Amerasian Research Center Systems Plus College Foundation Angeles City, Philippines