Stereotyping and Racism

Got into an argument with a friend today that's making me a bit upset. We had a conversation over lunch sometime ago where I kinda carelessly threw out something along the line of that I would not date Asian guys, but would rather date white guys. My friend being an Asian male.

Anyway, he bought it back up today before some people and I got really embrassed that he said that. So we got into an argument.

There is a definite trend in society for Asian girls to prefer to date white guys rather than Asian guys and my friend finds this insulting. Of the reasons I wouldn't want to date Asian guys are: they're chauvinistic, uncaring, lazy, not independent, weak willed, selfish, etc... (As he had pointed out, they are the negative traits exibited by the male figures of my life but does not represent the whole of Asian male). Intellectually, I think that he is right. However, just because he doesn't consider himself possive of these negative qualities, doesn't mean that the whole of Asian male (AKA Nebulous!Asian Male) does not.

I am of the belief that stereotyping, while carried to the extreme (aka racism) is wrong, has logical and meaningful reasons for existing. I'd almost classify stereotyping as common sense.

However, I can't help but question myself and all the other Asian females out there that maybe I am/we are being closed minded. (One point being that we are influenced by main stream cinema to prefer caucasian standard of beauty

Though as I pointed to my friend, the existence of this stereonegativity against Asian men also calls for them to evaulate themselves in term of personal, emotional relationship, etc.