Final answer:
The caricature of the asexual and feminized Asian male and hypersexualized Asian female arose from colonialism, imperialism, and orientalism, where European self-perception of superiority after the industrial revolution fostered stereotypes of Asia as 'stagnant'. Orientalism painted Asian societies as irrational and overly sensual, enhancing European identities by contrast. These stereotypes persist in modern media and societal perceptions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The historic context that gave rise to the caricature of the asexual and feminized Asian male and of the hypersexualized Asian female originates from a number of intertwined factors such as colonialism, imperialism, and racial stereotypes propagated through media portrayals. European dominance over Asia, as articulated by historians and Asian intellectuals, stemmed from a radical shift in self-perception following the industrial revolution. This newfound European confidence led to the perception of Asia as stagnant and Europeans as superior, deserving to rule due to supposed biological advantages, a misinterpretation of Darwin's theories.
Orientalism further contributed to these racially and sexually charged stereotypes, a concept detailed by Edward Said, which depicted Asian and Middle Eastern societies as irrational and overly sensual. This portrayal served to reinforce European self-images as rational, moral, and democratic. Simultaneously, the mechanizations of colonialism demanded the reconfiguration of gender roles and sexual norms, pushing toward assimilation to European standards and erasing indigenous expressions of gender and sexuality.
Through the construction and perpetuation of these stereotypes, Asian men were depicted as effeminate or weaker, and Asian women as overly sexualized beings. This was heavily influenced by the power dynamics established during European colonial rule and it continues to shape media and societal perceptions to this day.