Bring an Asian Helper into Your Home!
February 9th, 2009With an Asian Helper by your side, anyone can be Betty Crocker.
Which, I assume, is why Hamburger Helper has come out with this fancy new product: Asian Helper!
I first saw this in Stop N Shop with Kit, and he couldn’t help snap a picture.
Hamburger Helper is for the useless cooks in the world who either are too inept or busy to make anything real. Which is why I love it. Hamburger Helper warms my lazy soul. And the glove is cute. Almost as cute as Pillsbury Doughboy.
That’s why the emergence of “Asian Helper” is like - what the fuck?
First of all, since all the other “Helpers” include the food item in its name (Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper, Chicken Helper), there’s something inherently cannibalistic about it.
But the most disturbing part of this whole thing - is it true that no one, I repeat, no one in their focus groups, on their marketing team, on their test surveys said anything about the name sounding kind of racist? What if it was called “Mexican Helper”?
Let’s think about who - besides me - eats and buys these products. College students? Single folks? Busy or lazy white moms? I’d bet money on this that actual Asian people would probably never eat an Asian Helper. So how weird to think that Bobby’s mom picks him up from soccer practice and says “Bobby! I bought an Asian Helper today! On sale at the supermarket.”
I did a quick search online to see if others thought it was racist, and found a forum where people were discussing the matter. One lady suggested something that sounded like a pretty good idea.
But I just don’t think that would sit right with Kit.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
no, kit would love it.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Heh, Asian Gourmet Kit.
But yeah, that’s really frustrating. Unfortunately there is no supermarket at my school where I can label this product “RACIST” with a sharpie. >.<
February 13th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I personally do not find the name offensive. I think to slap “racist” on hamburger helper is a bit unreasonable and taking political correctness to a level beyond common sense. As a matter of fact, I think your sarcastic remarks about “busy or lazy white moms” to be a little offensive.
February 13th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
We love white people.
We have white friends, white bosses, white politicians, white cops, white reporters, white coaches, white media people, white celebtities in our daily lives, white CEOs, white marketing people, white officials, white landlords, white friends of friends, white music, white magazines, and white teachers.
The one thing we don’t have though is a white helper.
February 14th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Vicarious, while I respect your opinions, you are not obligated to read my blog if you find what I say to be offensive and lacking common sense.
My post - written with humor and sarcasm like you said - is neither outraged nor militant in tone. I do not call for action to petition pulling these items from the shelves. I’m merely posing a question “Why wouldn’t someone think about how that sounds in the context of race and history in the United States? Would the folks at Betty Crocker say ‘Mexican Helper’ without thinking twice? And if not, why do so for ‘Asian Helper’?”
Letting things like this slide without discussion or at least poking fun at it translates into a social consciousness that ignores how racial attitudes affect minorities. So no, I don’t think this is about “political correctness” at all. Nor is it about a box of hamburger helper. It’s about being oblivious, and not giving a shit.
As for ‘lazy white moms’, I apologize for offending you. But I find nothing racist about that. I think you’re taking political correctness to a level beyond common sense.
February 14th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
i want some asian helpers!!! can you pick some up on your way home from work? k thanks.
i think a taste test is in order.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Woah, hold up a sec. My “lazy white moms” remark was not to imply it was “racist” - something can be offensive and yet not racist. And why are you so defensive? First comment back at me is “you are not obligated to read my blog if you find what I say to be offensive and lacking common sense”? Kid, while I absolutely respect GAD and its cause (which means I will read your blog as I please), I think you need to slow down and maybe even grow up some. Obviously a blog is meant to be read and hopefully those who read will be educated. The opposit of that is hopefully, the BLOGGER can also gain some education from her readers. Now I apologize if my comment seemed blunt and sharp, but we live in a world with different perspective and opinions. White/Black/Yellow — difference of view points. My comment to your blog was just my reaction to what you wrote. I realized part of you was just sarcastic since you do have that dark sense of humor touch going on, but I can still disagree right? Is your blog and message ONLY for those who agree 100% with you? Are you and the message of your blog 100% correct?
As I’ve said once and I will say again, if you want your REAL message - that is one of being OPENMINDED, KIND, RESPECTFUL, ACCEPTING and COMPASSIONATE of all human culture and identities and people — then please do as you preach.
I’m sorry, but altho I agree with your message most of the times, sometimes I guess we just don’t see eye to eye. But thats exactly where you want to be. Only through friction and conflict can real change materialize. So when you have your audience in such a position, dont patronize them b/c that is petty and only hurts your msg and turns ppl away.
You’re at the turning point. Do you turn back or keep going? Your choice.
VC
February 15th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Dear VC,
You make a very valid point. You’re right, our blog is for everyone to read and I do welcome different points of view, which is why I approved your comment. (All comments are moderated by me.)
Along the same lines as what you’re saying in your previous posted comment, I also have a right to disagree with you. I responded to you because I felt that everyone should know and be aware that “Asian Helper” is problematic. I could have probably done without the snarkiness, and for that, my apologies.
I appreciate that you often agree with our message, but historically, your comments to us have always been condescending, so I find your claim that we are patronizing towards you to be ironic. Please do not call me ‘Kid’ just because I may be younger than you. Our experiences are different.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:28 am
VC, you need to shut the fuck up! Plain & simple. Do us all a favor & pull that stick out of your ass.
P.S. Ever heard of spell check?
February 16th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Vicarious Curiosity- what you don’t seem to want to acknowledge is the validity of “Asian Helper” to be potentially offensive to an entire group of people. I say “potentially” because not all Asian people may find this name offensive and some may feel that this over-extends the bounds of political correctness. However you’re choosing to conveniently ignore the social nuance behind the words. Historically it can’t be denied that minorities in this country have experienced second class citizen status. Thus to combine a race with the world “helper” for the purpose of selling an inauthentic food product is to ignore years of marginalization that most people would be aware of. This brings me back to the point of “potentially” offensive. As makers of a ubiquitously distributed food product, you would think that Betty Crocker would be aware of the potentially offensive nature of this name and show the Asian/American population the same cultural sensitivity as they would Hispanic/Latino/African American or any other ethnic population. If something may offend a particular group, and it is not in the context of satire/comedy for the purpose of illustrating a greater point, then you disrespect that population when you allow a product with a potentially offensive name to hit the shelves because it says that you don’t think this particular group of people merit the same cultural awareness or sensitivity you would accord to other populations.
You think that to deconstruct “Asian Helper” is to over-step the bounds of common sense political correctness, but it is precisely products like these that continue to marginalize us because they are so pervasive in our culture. Perhaps you have never experienced discrimination - I can’t claim to know this about you, but I am willing to bet that if you had, you would not be making these statements.