Tiffany from Bunk’d: the Epitome of the Smart Asian Stereotype
The smart Asian stereotype is a prime example of a positive, racial stereotype. The assumption that “all Asian Americans are smart” seems like an uplifting compliment, but in reality creates a disturbing, distorted perception of the Asian American community that does more harm than good. Tiffany from Bunk’d is one of the most exaggerated, most spot-on embodiments of this stereotype. How do I know this? Well, all of the jokes written in the show for her are about her obsession with academics, or her fear of her tiger mom that generates her drive to be book-smart, the fact that she’s only academically intelligent but lacks socially/emotionally intelligence, and lastly— I was the one who played her on TV. As an 11 year old actress just starting to make my way into the film industry in 2016, I was pretty clueless to the repercussions that taking on the role would have to the entire Asian American community. Looking b...