06.30.08
Podcast Episode: Byron Wong, Writer, The Fighting 44s
06.12.08
Minority women and the issue of getting along
A lot of the times when I see another Asian girl that is a stranger on the street, for some reason I automatically act hostile towards them. We exchange unapproachable glances, and in my mind I am judging them by the way they look, the way the dress, who they are with, and sizing them up to see if they are any threat to me. Why do I do this? Every Asian girl I have talked to admits to doing this.. Actually, scratch that, every minority girl I know acts this way towards someone of their own race. Why?
It seems Asian and minority men don’t face this same hostility with each other. When I asked my brother if he felt the way that I do towards Asian girls he asked quite shocked, “You actually feel threatened?” I got similar astounded responses from my Asian guy friends as well. Why do they not judge each other as much as Asian women do?
Perplexed by this issue, I turned to my friend Soumya (pronounced like Sonya with an “m”–Somya), a beautiful girl from California who happens to be Indian as well. I asked if she felt threatened at times, and she said yes. We were both surprised by our own responses. It seems that while many girls feel threatened or hostile, rarely do we acknowledge it. Even when we acknowledge it, we don’t even know exactly why we feel and act this way. For me, the actual reason may be a little frightening. It reveals an intense insecurity about our identity as minority and Asian women.
Soumya and I came up with a possible reason for our reaction. Since we share similar backgrounds, I am not claiming this reasoning as a universal answer, but perhaps it will help you in figuring out why you react the way you do. Soumya and I both come from upper middle class wealthy families with parents who immigrated from their respective countries on student visas and scholarships. After the rags to riches transformation of our parents, we were raised in the suburbs surrounded by American pop culture and led two lives: our cultural one with family and family friends, and our school one in a white American society. Eventually we became masters at excelling in the “white” social scene through personality and looks. However, we both recognize that at many points and times in the friends we have made, we each have been the minority novelty: “This is my Asian friend. Isn’t she hot and funny? She’s the hottest Asian I have ever seen. No other Asians are like her.” I am sure many of us have heard similar lines when we were introduced as parties and to other friends of friends.
Soumya and I, it seems, had become exceptionally vain and proud of our differences. Since we recognized that our novelty as a minority allowed us to achieve a level of popularity, it led us to prize our uniqueness. Our fear is that our value and uniqueness is by race only. If my friends decided to talk to another Asian girl, I feel that they will quickly discover that she can be just as good looking and funny and engaging as I can be — if not more. Thus, this fear leads me to automatically become threatened by the appearance of another Asian girl. It seems that I have little faith in my position within my friend group. Furthermore, that I have very little confidence in myself that I would automatically fear somebody better. This is both startling and depressing to me. Do I not trust my friends enough to believe that they see me more than just an exotic Asian girl? The thing is, I know that they do–that they love me. However, I feel objectified when they refer to me as their Asian friend. Is that seriously my only selling point worth sharing to new strangers? Why can’t they refer to me as their funny friend or charming friend? It seems that by acknowledging me as my race, they are saying: You are not equal.
Therein lies the ultimate paradox that Soumya and I discovered. The racial differences that limit us, make us feel insecure, and makes us feel worthless are the same differences that we have benefited from. Our racial novelty has given us a degree of social success, but we hate its implications. Thus, Soumya and I agree we judge and size up other minority women to see how big of a threat they are to the status quo of our social standing. We fear that we will be outshone.
In regards to gender differences–why males don’t feel the degree of hostility–Soumya says it best, “Guys have sports to bond over, but what do we have? Make up? Clothes? If these are our similarities then no wonder girls compete. These are tools to make us look better than the next girl; what we share are the tools we use to compete with one another. A dual with stated weapons of preferences.”
I size up others out of my own insecurity, but I have felt the glare as well. I wonder why other girls do it too? Is it really going to be a case-by-case reason, or are we all responding to our insecurity in our place in a white society?
06.05.08
1 Pack = 1 Vaccine commercial
I tend to pride myself in not being overly sensitive, so perhaps this reaction could be considered a moment of weakness. However, while watching Law & Order (guilty pleasure) this afternoon, I happened to see the new Pampers 1 Pack = 1 Vaccine commercial.
In this commercial, a white mother and child receive the thanks of other mothers and children who appear in ethnic clothing representing the various countries that the Pampers cause is aiding. The idea that for every pack of diapers purchased one vaccine is made available is indeed truly commendable. However, I am more disturbed with the second message that this commercial conveys.
To me this commercial implies that all non White races are not modern, are extremely ethnic, and need the help of a white America to guide the way. Whoever created the commercial was at least somewhat aware of the discrepancy in race and knew how to manipulate race imagery. The main mother is walking on an affluent street pushing a baby carriage and all the other people on that street are white as well. However, all nonwhite actors are wearing ridiculously stereotypical clothing. A small Mexican child runs up in a woven poncho at one point, and an Asian woman turns to reveal that she is wearing a rice farmer’s hat. All of the women and children are breathtakingly beautiful, yet none of them are wearing modern clothing. I don’t see how the commercial could have been weakened if it was a modern Asian, black, or Hispanic woman walking down that same street. If nothing else, it would have actually strengthened the commercial by eliminating the overtly condescending tone.
In about 3 minutes the entire commercial has shaken my comfort as an Asian woman, and it also has awakened a deep fear within me. My anger and frustration with this commercial stems from my worries about respect and the way I am viewed as an Asian American. I identify with the modern culture–I see myself as living affluently, elegantly, and privileged. However, I also identify with my race. I watch this commercial, and it dawns on me that maybe when white people view me, they see me as the peasant rice farmer walking on their rich white affluent street. They must think then that I don’t belong and am attempting to assimilate by adopting “their” ways of dress and lifestyles.
Why should I be made to feel this way when watching their commercial when I was in fact born into my privileged lifestyle? My parents worked hard both financially and socially to provide me with equal opportunities. Because of past encounters with verifiable assholes and racial stereotypes, I have become acutely aware of my Asian “difference;” thus, when commercials such as these grace my time with Law & Order, they only serve to weaken my confidence in my place in society as an Asian American.
However, my insecurities with my identity are my concern exclusively. There is no way that a diaper commercial could create this sensitivity within me. Furthermore, I don’t expect anybody but myself to own up to causing these insecurities because they are a product of the way I internalized certain altercations. BUT, the subtle message that this commercial conveys encourages the belief that other races are powerless and poor. That it is the grace of modern white America who can provide the necessary help. It is undoubtedly viewed through Western eyes, and I worry that for those that already see whites as the only modern race, that this commercial will serve to instill the backwards uselessness of other races.
To some, my observations will come off as sensitive, but I think my concerns are extremely valid. Please take time to view the commercial and perhaps buy a pack of diapers because it is only fair to admit that at least their mission is extremely admirable.
06.04.08
Planet B-Boy: Gripping yarn builds to spectacular battle
Benson Lees’ plan to make the continuing story of break dancers a success was made possible. The recording of Planet B-boy is now on its three years.
The possibility of making it more interesting than any other news or current events will be true, because f its ratings and audience impact.
Next Step for Liu?
John Liu is ready to leave the City Council in 2009, but nobody knows what his plans are. They think that he is aiming for the mayoral position, but he is refusing it he doesn’t want to attempt to improve the city Council.
The soon-to-be-candidate is knocking into the office of the so called “voice of the people.” He encourages the people not to disregard the contribution of the immigrants into the city.
This Chinese Deliveryman Works at Google
A new film entitled “Take Out” will be shown in New York. This is about a Chinese delivery man who struggles to pay his debt to immigrant smugglers.
The actor is a Korean-American who is working in the marketing division of Google in New York and is getting a part time M.B.A. The movie trace to the delivery man’s everyday life as he makes more effort in paying his debt. The movie is in Mandarin language as well.
Chinese-American Community Pioneer Ruby Chow Dies
Ruby Chow a pioneer of Chinese-American community died last Wednesday morning. She was a flourishing business woman and a politician as well. She holds the first Chinese restaurant outside of Chinatown.
She has served well for three terms as a politician and she proved that women can do things that they think are limited to men.
Asian American Olympic Hopefuls
Several Asian-Americans are up to bringing home the gold from the 2008 Beijing. Some of them are:
Badminton: Howard Bach – Bach was born in Saigon, Vietnam and grew up in San Francisco. And he also continued to pursue his passion for badminton at YMCA in U.S
Cycling: Kim Hayashi – 22 years and was born in Hawaii and will be competing for BMX racing.
Swimming: Tara Kirk – He is a half Chinese half Filipino and grew up in U.S. He was a champion in swimming since 2001.]
Table Tennis: Gao Jun Chang – She was born in Boading, China and now a U.S. citizen and is residing in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She had been playing table tennis since she was still 5 years old.
Judo: Taylor Takata – He is representing the U.S. for the 60-kilogram weight division for Olympics. And he is from Wahaiawa, Hawaii.
Rhythmic Gymnastics: Lisa Wang – An Asian-American which had won several championships already with Rhythmic Gymnastics. She will be studying at Yale University and will be taking up international studies or journalism.
Artistic Gymnastics: Ivana Hong – His parents are Chinese but they were born in Vietnam and now living in Laguna Hills, California.
Kevin Tan – who was a hyperactive child, but has won many to championships as a gymnast.
Yewki Tomita – a 23-year old native of Arizona got into the competition for the 2008 Olympics. His parents owned a gym that’s this was is stepping stone to becoming a good gymnast.
Sho Nakamori – He was still 7 years old when he got into the sport. This was also his parents’ favorite sport that’s why he was influenced by them.
Raj Bhavsar – a native of Texas who used furniture as his practice tools for gymnastics.
Diving: Haley Ishimatsu – She is a 15-year old girl from Seal Beach, California who is the representative for diving.
Kimiko Soldati – also a representative for diving and is a half Japanese.
Field Hockey: Binh Hoang – He was born in Vietnam and is now living at West Lake Village, California. He is already playing field hockey while he was still 7 years old.
Asian American Business Group Signs Cooperative Agreement
Last May 28 at the Mercury, Koreatown L.A. took place the formal signing of a collective agreement of Asian-American business owners in Southern California.
Envoys like Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai chambers of commerce in S. California have gathered together for the event in order for them to meet and exploit power and develop economic chances.