'White' men in places like Thailand and the lesser developed Asian countries are perceived by the locals as being richer (due to the better overall standard of living abroad) and more powerful (due to perceived higher social status and nationality), so being attractive. Thus, parents may urge their daughters to find a 'foreigner' so that they can have a 'better life' and higher standard of living abroad - or so they think and idealize.
I thought in most Asian countries it's like this, I mean most first world nations are Western Nations. You know some Japanese and Taiwanese girls are very easy with Western guys not just Thai girls, but Thailand is full of prostitutes that's seems to be true.
In the developed Asian countries like Japan and in places like Taiwan, this philosophy can still be slightly relevant, although this would occur much less and is more apparent in poorer families there. Then it would come down to subjective preference in appearance (Western looks) and novelty (dating a difference race).
I see, but I must tell you in Western people's eyes only Japan has reached first world status and Taiwan even Singapore to Westerners are not considered "really developed" even their GDPs have reached a standard that are considered that, by the text book. This is mainly due to some other reasons that Westerners don't consider they qualified as developed nations.
My marriage to my husband has nothing to do with the fact he is richer than the Chinese on average. In fact the Chinese people in my network in Australia are very wealthy.
In places like the US, UK and Australia, as 'white' is mainstream in such countries, ethnic minorities will often attempt to assimilate to the society by opting to meld in with the 'mainstream' color there by choosing a local there - in order to eliminate the distance. It could often be 'whitewashing' (as you put mention) for those ethnic minorities born abroad - i.e. having total neglect of one's original heritage and culture being replaced by the culture, tastes and preferences in the place of residence.
Hmmm, actually my husband is not Australian, he is of European descendents but not Australian and his first language is not English. At the moment we are not living in Australia but in the future there is a high chance we will. So I don't really benefit to assimilate to the Australian society, rather we would both be immigrants. But at the moment because of my marriage to him I am experiencing his cultures easier I suppose.
Personally, I would not really prefer dating someone with a very different ethnicity from my own. I've had experience and I hated the differences; it's almost as if we were always speaking a different language due to the cultural differences (despite being linguistically identical). It was refreshing at first during the first two years, but it soon became tiresome and despite numerous attempts to solve issues pertaining to culture, it was irreconcilable as culture is ingrained. But, nonetheless, some people may have a much better experience or prefer a different lifestyle for personal reasons.
I suppose everybody has right to decide how they want to live their lives. As interracial couple, there are circumstances where we confuse each other or there are certain things we don't always agree on. But we choose to stay together.
BTW, Minty, have read my reply to your query about wedding photo shops in Hong Kong?
Yes, sorry I read it just now; I didn't read it earlier because I was caught up with other discussions. Yes, thank you for your advice; the next time when I have the opportunity to go to HK, I will look at the website you suggested. Or if I have any more queries I suppose I can ask you right?
That was extremely rude, im sure in the west you could complain to someone about this to get appropriate action taken against the offending studio staff.
Your response is similar to most Western people's idea what they think of this situation. My husband thinks they were unprofessional and expensive.
Hey, I don't disagree with the term being racist; I was simply acknowledging Minty's mention of 'whitewashing'. The term is a crude manipulation of the meaning of the word, 'whitewash'.
I don't think you are racist.
'Whitewashed' is often a very negative, derogatory term for those ethnic minorities who, after living in Western countries for a long time or since birth, are identical to the locals internally in mind and spirit (as opposed to external appearance) - this carries culture, habits, language accent, tastes, preferences and so on. In this sense, they perceive of themselves as being 'white' despite their appearance and prefer everything 'white' over those of his/her own ethnic origin. These people are said to be discriminatory towards people of their own ethnicity (because of preferring things, people, objects that are 'white'), thus being 'whitewashed'. Normally, these people are also said to have 'lost touch' with their original heritage.
Additionally, some people use 'whitewashed' merely for those who are obsequious to Westerners (i.e. 崇洋媚外).
Yes I do think white washed is of negative connotation. It's like labelling East Asians as "bananas", inside white outside yellow.
The thing is although I have been labelled "White Trash" but I don't exactly prefer all things White over Asian.
I do in fact able to speak my original language, Mandarin rather well. My Chinese reading is also good but my Chinese writing is not so good but that's because I only have primary school education in Chinese. So I am not one of those Asians who are unaware of their own cultures or language/s. I think some people (not necessarily Asians) have issues with people intermarry people outside of their race hence the disapproval reactions.:auch:
In terms of discrimination towards my own race for spouse selecting, I don't think I am exactly that but I do think a lot of Chinese like to remain conservative and I am fairly cosmopolitan and I like to try new things.
(or is this supposed to be the joke...? 
) Normally I am the person seeing a joke where actually none is intended... 
