AAJA Letter to GQ Magazine

May 18, 2007

Mr. Jim Nelson
Editor-in-Chief
GQ Magazine
4 Times Square
New York, NY 10036

Dear Mr. Nelson,

It's no "secret": Flippant references to women as whores are offensive. And an Asian whore? Well, that's not just offensive. It's also a tired cliche.

No matter that your letter from the editor in the May issue of GQ was just a lame attempt to lambaste what sounds like a lame DVD. We expect better from a magazine of GQ's caliber, and we expect your readers would agree. Humor and "edginess" are not excuses for demeaning -- and dangerous -- objectification. After all, educated editors such as yourself would know that hundreds of thousands of Asian women and girls were kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery during World War II precisely because of those types of misogynistic views. And prostitution -- especially sexual slavery of children -- is a serious problem that several Asian countries continue to battle today.

We can't rely on positive thinking or "making command of the universe," as the DVD in your letter suggested, to end racial stereotyping. Instead, we'll take a more conventional tact. We're asking for an apology.

On behalf of the 2,000 reporters, editors and industry executives of Asian descent represented by the Asian American Journalists Association, we ask that you issue an apology to the many people -- of all races and ethnicities -- who find your column offensive. And please pledge to take greater care in the future.

Sincerely,

JEANNE MARIANI-BELDING
National President

RENATO M. ASTUDILLO
Executive Director