This week the topics we are discussing are “Faith, Sexuality, and Mental Health: The Triple Taboo Topics.”
Being able to discuss and have readings on these topics in itself is extremely important, but also very rare.
Many Asian Americans face numerous hardships when it comes to dealing with these struggles and simply
talking about it within their own households, but why? We are fortunate to be able to learn about these topics
in class and giving people a greater understanding and awareness of validating their own feelings and
understanding that they are not alone in these struggles. But learning about these topics shouldn't be a privilege,
it should simply be a right for everyone. Many people are just unaware of what Asian-American communities
really deal with and this type of curriculum of learning about ourselves; our histories and our identities are an
important facet in understanding why we are the way we are and helps others understand us as well, even our
own families. In the reading Teaching Justice and Living Peace: Body, Sexuality, and Religious Education in
Asian-American Communities by Boyung Lee it really highlights how Asian-American communities are very
heterosexual-centered because of sexuality being tied to the church and old-fashioned traditions. Asian Americans
grow up very differently in comparison to the upbringings of their parents and this adds to the generational gap
of values between parents and their children. This adds to the struggle in understanding one another and the
oppression many of these minorities face when it comes to sexuality. Many old traditions and values of older
generations are ingrained in people such as our parents and a lot of the discrimination queer-identified
Asian-Americans are from our own families. Many of these children often have to suppress these part of their identities because of the fear of being disowned by people who are closed-minded and care about them, but this also adds to not only social struggles, but struggles within their own mental-health and accepting themselves.
Being able to discuss and have readings on these topics in itself is extremely important, but also very rare.
Many Asian Americans face numerous hardships when it comes to dealing with these struggles and simply
talking about it within their own households, but why? We are fortunate to be able to learn about these topics
in class and giving people a greater understanding and awareness of validating their own feelings and
understanding that they are not alone in these struggles. But learning about these topics shouldn't be a privilege,
it should simply be a right for everyone. Many people are just unaware of what Asian-American communities
really deal with and this type of curriculum of learning about ourselves; our histories and our identities are an
important facet in understanding why we are the way we are and helps others understand us as well, even our
own families. In the reading Teaching Justice and Living Peace: Body, Sexuality, and Religious Education in
Asian-American Communities by Boyung Lee it really highlights how Asian-American communities are very
heterosexual-centered because of sexuality being tied to the church and old-fashioned traditions. Asian Americans
grow up very differently in comparison to the upbringings of their parents and this adds to the generational gap
of values between parents and their children. This adds to the struggle in understanding one another and the
oppression many of these minorities face when it comes to sexuality. Many old traditions and values of older
generations are ingrained in people such as our parents and a lot of the discrimination queer-identified
Asian-Americans are from our own families. Many of these children often have to suppress these part of their identities because of the fear of being disowned by people who are closed-minded and care about them, but this also adds to not only social struggles, but struggles within their own mental-health and accepting themselves.
Question: What is the best way informing our families and older generations about these topics?
References:
Lee, B. (2006). Teaching Justice and Living Peace: body, sexuality, and religious education in Asian-American communities. Religious Education.
Carney, M., & O'Connor, B. (2017, May 25). Taiwan becomes first Asian country to recognise same-sex marriage. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-25/taiwan-becomes-first-asian-country-to-recognise-gay-marriage/8557380
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