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."
