Incident or pattern? Following a controversial radio interview with Chinese-Dutch director Julie Ng, DJ Ruud de Wild faced a wave of criticism. The segment, in which Ng’s heritage was ridiculed, reignited the debate on the stereotyping of East Asian people. Van Sterkenburg, Chief Diversity Officer at the EUR and an ESHCC professor, commented on the incident: “Precisely because it is presented as a joke, it persists.”
Van Sterkenburg is clear: the incident on De Wild’s radio programme is part of a wider pattern. The professor of racism explains that examples of this pattern can be found not only in the media, but throughout society as a whole. “It often takes the form of jokes, making it less likely to be recognised as racism.”
According to Van Sterkenburg, the interview— in which director Ng was asked about clichés such as babi pangang and spring rolls—demonstrates exactly how stereotyping frequently operates: “Complex stories are reduced to simple, recognisable clichés.” He believes the reason this stereotyping persists lies in the fact that there has not yet been a broad public debate on the matter, and it is therefore often passed off as so-called humour.
However, Van Sterkenburg believes that the commotion following the incident will not lead to significant change. He points out that this kind of attention often fades over time and that, in his view, change stems from greater awareness brought about by sustained attention. Organisations and individuals with a wide reach must take the lead, as they have the ability to make a difference. “Without structural attention and policy, little will change,” says Van Sterkenburg.
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You can read the whole interview here.
