According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, 2008 is the Year of the Rat. People born under the sign of the Pig enjoy life and all it has to offer, including family and friends. They are honest and thoughtful and expect the same of other people.

Quick—Can you name at least three famous Asian American actresses? You can't? Well, that's no big surprise. A Screen Actors Guild study found out that most TV shows under-represent minorities and women. One of the only TV shows starring an Asian American woman—American Girl starring comedian Margaret Cho—was on TV for a just a few weeks before it was pulled. The TV shows and movies that do show Asian American women often depict stereotypes. The women are either immigrants who speak with heavy accents and wear scarves on their heads or are shown as studious brainiacs always trying to please their parents. Ugh. There are some breakthroughs—like Lucy Liu who plays the tough-minded lawyer Ling Woo on Ally McBeal and Ming-Na who plays Dr. Deb Chen on ER—but Asian American actresses are still not in the mainstream.

What can you do?

Pay attention. When you are watching TV or going to the movies, pay careful attention to the actors and actresses. Are there any Asian Americans on screen? If so, are they in major roles or supporting roles? What are they wearing? Do they speak with accents? What kinds of jobs do they have? How do they behave? Do they think and act independently, using their own resources and making their own decisions, or are they shown working for, reacting to, or depending on others?

Ask questions. Think: What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented by the Asian Americans in this show? What is the show "saying" to me under the surface about Asian American people? How might different people view this show differently from me? If I were Asian American, what would I think?

Make choices. You have power over your viewing choices. If you don't like how Asian Americans are shown in a TV program, you can turn it off and walk away. Or, you can write letters to TV networks or movie production companies telling them what you like or don't like and why.

Say What?

Asian Pacific Americans represent many different ethnic groups, each with their own language and culture. Here are some ways to say "hello" in a few different Asian Pacific languages.