White monkey

White monkey (Chinese: 白猴子; pinyin: Bái hóuzi) is a term for the phenomenon of white foreigners or immigrants in China and Japan^[1] being hired for modeling, advertising, English teaching, or promotional jobs on the basis of their race.^[2][3] The phenomenon is based on the perception that association with foreigners, specifically white foreigners, can signify prestige, legitimacy, and international status.^[3][4][5] The jobs themselves, called "white monkey jobs" or "white-face jobs",^[5] often require little actual work on the part of the model, who in some cases is not expected to be fluent in Chinese.^[6][7] The concept is considered a subset of a larger "rent a foreigner" industry in China and other parts of Asia.^[3][8]

White monkey jobs are often related to marketing and advertising. The "white monkey" may be hired to act as an associate of an individual^[3] 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.^[2][7][8]

While the concept is less viable in larger urban areas with more international exposure,^[2] the practice is common in smaller urban centers and rural areas,^[4][2] especially those trying to expand or attract real-estate attention by feigning an international presence.^[8]