Blog #10

Jazmyn L Harris
Blog #10
Due:11/22/2015

Sexuality: Normalizing it vs Shaming it

 In TEACHING JUSTICE AND LIVING PEACE: BODY, SEXUALITY, AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES by Boyung Lee, the discussion of sexuality in Asian American families addresses many of the cultural norms and taboos found around the subject. In his piece, Lee mentions that religion and the influence of Confucian practices has a lot to do with why Asian Americans choose to stray away from the idea of homosexuality. With the changes in contemporary society, I have noticed personally a smaller amount of Asian Americans in the LGBTQ community than many other ethnicity. Despite this, we can assume that this will change in the future as social acceptance becomes more equitable in the changing years. Boyung Lee states that even now, it is unheard of to speak about sexuality in any form publicly in this culture creating a separation of ethnicity and sexuality. However, this makes it harder for Asian Americans to come out to their peers and family members due to the predisposed ideas of homophobia, shame, and normative heterosexual being. With Confucian teachings coupled with the ideologies of the body, sexuality becomes all the more difficult to discuss due to the education of such topics in these communities and also more taboo due to their moral beliefs.

Question: When will Asian Americans be able to discuss their sexuality identity publicly without Shaming their family and how can this be achieved in a culturally appropriate/honorable way?