A term used to describe a stereotype of Asian women found in literature and film from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. A "dragon lady" was a woman of Asian heritage who was thought of as being sexually powerful and generally of a cunning,
underhanded, conniving nature, who would use her beauty and sexuality to get what she wanted. Often accompanied in fiction with an opium pipe, jade jewelry, and wearing a Chinese dress, usually with dragons on it. They were usually depicted as snide, assertive, aggressive, sneaky and explosive in temperament.
The term is now generally used as a descriptive in a negative context, often to describe a non-Asian's misconception of Asian women. It is also used to describe a
manipulative Asian woman, though this is less common.
OLD USE:
"I went to an
opium den when I was on shore leave back during the war, and this dragon lady got me smoked up, fucked the hell out of me... and then I woke up with my wallet and clothes gone."
MODERN USE:
"I may be an
Asian woman, but I'm not a dragon lady. I have a job and support myself."
"Tom is just an idiot who thinks if he dates an Asian, she'll be some sort of tantric dragon lady who'll have
all sorts of spooky Eastern sex secrets."
