For the tea also known as white monkey, see Baimao Hou.
White monkey (Chinese: 白猴子; pinyin: Bái hóuzi) is a term for the phenomenon of white foreigners or immigrants in China being hired for modeling, advertising, English teaching, or promotional jobs on the basis of their race.[1][2] The phenomenon is based on the perception that association with foreigners, specifically white foreigners, can signify prestige, legitimacy, and international status.[2][3][4] The jobs themselves, called "white monkey jobs" or "white-face jobs",[4] often require little actual work on the part of the model, who in some cases is not expected to be fluent in Chinese.[5][6] The concept is considered a subset of a larger "rent a foreigner" industry in China and other parts of Asia.[2][7]
White monkey jobs are often related to marketing and advertising. The "white monkey" may be hired to act as an associate of an individual[2] or pose as an authoritative figure to promote a brand or company, and businesses will occasionally hire these individuals to pose as a founder or executive.[1][6][7]
While the concept is less viable in larger urban areas with more international exposure,[1] the practice is common in smaller urban centers and rural areas,[3] especially those trying to expand or attract real-estate attention by feigning an international presence.[7]
^ abReinders, Eric (2024). Reading Tolkien in Chinese: Religion, Fantasy, and Translation. Perspectives on Fantasy series. London, UK: Bloomsbury Academic. p. 96. ISBN9781350374645.