Lost Identity

Mae Wong

Section 1

Week 10

            Have you ever felt you are losing your identity? Or your cultural identity? In the article, Emergence of Queer Vietnamese America by Gina Masequesmay, Gina discusses the issues that the Vietnamese face with their sexuality and culture. In addition, Gina is a transgender. She talked about how Vietnamese females struggle trying to find their identity because Vietnamese culture requires that females are to go to school and be filial to their parents. Then, they are to be married off to a man. In addition, they cannot obtain an education higher than their spouse because it is believed by the culture that females will not have a higher chance of marrying someone if they have a higher education. But some females want a higher education and don’t care about marriage because they are not heterosexual. They want to keep their cultural knowledge, but they feel isolated due to their sexuality.   

            Similarly, the television series, Fresh off the Boat, had an episode called “So Chineez” relating to how Asian Americans struggle trying to keep their cultural identity while adapting to the American culture. The mother, Jessica, wanted to preserve their culture because she felt that her children will forget their native tongue and culture. But, in the end, she stopped trying because her family knows who they are and won’t forget it even if they like the American culture. 

Question: Why can't women choose whatever they want to do without any criticism from others?