Meghan Markle's podcast Archetypes made its debut on Spotify last month. The latest episode brings to the listeners the various issues surrounding the stereotyping of Asian women on screen, which Markle refers to as acts of racism hidden behind stereotypes. The podcast, which has become popular in the short time since its launch, was currently on hold owing to Markle's visit to London after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Meghan Markle, in the fourth episode of her Archetypes podcast, called out the racism behind the toxic stereotyping of Asian women across Hollywood. The recent episode featured Markle engaged in discussion with comedian Margaret Cho and journalist Lisa Ling.
Suggested reading: Malala Calls Out Hollywood For Severe Lack Of Asian Representation On-Screen
Meghan Markle podcast
In an honest account, the Suits actor discussed her thoughts on the issue sharing that she was, unfortunately, less aware of the stigma that Asian women faced until recent years.
Calling out films like Kill Bill and Austin Powers, Markle said films like these, and so many more, have over-sexualised women of Asian descent. “This toxic stereotyping of women of Asian descent, it doesn’t just end once the credits roll,” she called out the film industry saying that several American films to date portray Asian women as highly aggressive alongside over sexualising them, which is racist in more ways than one.
The episode also had Markle talk about how her childhood influenced her to learn more about new cultures and respect differences.
Journalist Ling revealed on the podcast that as a broadcaster at Channel One, she was called the hot reporter in Rolling Stone's Hot List and had later had to endure racial abuse and slander for the same. "Someone at the workplace cut out the Rolling Sine article and drew slanted eyes over my eyes on the article paper and wrote 'Yeah, right' and then put it back in the mailbox," she shared.
"My success has moved the needle but it will take more to end 200 years of Asian stereotypes"
The women also dsvuused in depth the Kill Bill role of Lucy Liu and her claims of being stereotyped. In 2021, in an op-ed for Washington Post, actor Lucy Liu addressed claims about stereotyping of Asian women through her role of O-Ren Ishii the film Kill Bill. “Kill Bill has three other female professional killers in addition. Why not call Daryl Hannah, Uma Thurman, or Vivica A Fox a dragon lady? I can only draw a conclusion that it is omly because they are not Asian. I could have been wearing a tuxedo or a blond wig, but still I would have been called dragon lady because of where I come from," she wrote further persisting that she wants to play more roles that does not just put her in a box, because she is an artist and it is unfair to not cast her in roles that filmmakers believes only Americans can do because they are unwilling to diversify.
The previous episodes of the podcast have also hosted actor-producer Mindy Kaling and singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. The Archetypes podcast is dedicated to highlighting issues surrounding women through honest and compelling conversations. Markle, through her podcast, is bringing to the forefront various stigmas that hold women back.
Recently Malala Yousafzai called out Hollywood for the underrepresentation of Asian actors on screen. At the Women of Power event held last week, the Nobel Laureate discussed the severe lack of diversity in the film industry, mentioning how Asian actors only make less than four per cent of the leads across Hollywood.
The fourth episode of the podcast Archetypes is streaming on Spotify.
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