White monkey

For the tea also known as white monkey, see Baimao Hou.

White monkey (Chinese: 白猴子; pinyin: Bái hóuzi) is a term for the phenomenon of white foreigners or immigrants in China and Japan[1] being hired for modeling, advertising, English teaching, or promotional jobs on the basis of their race.[2][3] The phenomenon is based on the perception that association with foreigners, specifically white foreigners, can signify prestige, legitimacy, and international status.[3][4][5] The jobs themselves, called "white monkey jobs" or "white-face jobs",[5] often require little actual work on the part of the model, who in some cases is not expected to be fluent in Chinese.[6][7] The concept is considered a subset of a larger "rent a foreigner" industry in China and other parts of Asia.[3][8]

White monkey jobs are often related to marketing and advertising. The "white monkey" may be hired to act as an associate of an individual[3] or pose as an authoritative figure to promote a brand or company, and businesses will occasionally hire these individuals to pose as a founder or executive.[2][7][8]

While the concept is less viable in larger urban areas with more international exposure,[2] the practice is common in smaller urban centers and rural areas,[4][2] especially those trying to expand or attract real-estate attention by feigning an international presence.[8]

References

  1. ^ Patrick, Philip (2022-03-03). "In Japan, being a token westerner is big business". The Spectator. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  2. ^ a b c d Toropov, Pavel (23 January 2019). "'White monkey' foreign models bare skin to make ends meet in China". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  3. ^ a b c d Yan, Alice (10 June 2017). "White people wanted: a peek into China's 'rent a foreigner' industry". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  4. ^ a b Chen, Anelise (21 January 2016). "China's Rent-a-Foreigner Industry Is Alive and Kicking". www.vice.com. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  5. ^ a b Reinders, Eric (2024). Reading Tolkien in Chinese: Religion, Fantasy, and Translation. Perspectives on Fantasy series. London, UK: Bloomsbury Academic. p. 96. ISBN 9781350374645.
  6. ^ Moxley, Mitch. "Job Ad In China: White Man. No Experience Needed". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  7. ^ a b Koraza, Toni (10 August 2020). "The Most Famous Face in China". ManyStories. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  8. ^ a b c Borenstein, David (2015-04-28). "Opinion | 'Rent-a-Foreigner in China'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2021-07-23.