Vincent Serracino Week 4 SS1

      
       This week’s theme of “Do or do not. There is no try,” brought my attention to the hard work that goes unrecognized by Asian American women academics. In “Care Work: The Invisible Labor of Asian American Women in Academia,“ by Wei Ming Dariotis and Grace J. Yoo, highlights how stereotypes for Asian Women gives them an extra workload that goes unrewarded and shows the importance of emotional support for students. I found the argument that the positive effects of emotional care work towards graduation rates should return compensation for those who disproportionately provide it to be very effective. The combined stereotype of Asian women as wise “wounded healers” corresponds with a large amount of Asian American women faculty serving as an impromptu counselor for a large variety of student and faculty trauma and emotional strain. With most stereotyped faculty being untrained in psychological counseling Asian American women endure additional personal stress and lost time “at the expense of their own professional development and health” (Dariotis, 19). While being available for advice or just as a caring ear can do wonders for students, the fact that Asian American women are primarily sought out as opposed to other groups serves as an unfair detriment to a professional life described by the article as “frantic.” It was shocking to learn that only one group bears this responsibility. The idea of widely available (and compensated) counsel could enrich students and faculty alike and perhaps raise the incentive for more faculty to take paid time to assist people in ways they feel capable.



       "Attack on the Spirit by the 'Rational World' (and Spiritual Recovery from It)" by Brett J. Esaki was a very different article that allowed me to learn how many people need and seek a “spiritual refuge” as a form of relief from their very rational professions and the lack of resources available to Asian American women. While it is pretty obvious that many Asian practices and traditions are appropriated here in the west, I was interested by the fact that women of different ethnicities are being recommended to draw parallels from other appropriated traditions if they can’t find the exact support that they want or need. I felt sad about how people struggle to find assistance in relief and mental health that understands their background as this is all too common.

Question: What is your spiritual getaway? How would you describe it's effectiveness for you?

Sources:

Dariotis, W., & Yoo, G. J. (n.d.). Care Work: The Invisible Labor of Asian American Women in Academia“. Retrieved from https://canvas.ucdavis.edu/courses/392140/files/folder/Weekly Readings/Week4?preview=6353486.

Esaki, B. J. (n.d.). Attack on the Spirit by the “Rational World” (and Spiritual Recovery from It). Retrieved from https://canvas.ucdavis.edu/courses/392140/files/folder/Weekly Readings/Week4?preview=6353488

Simpson, G. (2018, March 27). Star Wars 9: Will Yoda's Force ghost return with Luke? Frank Oz SPEAKS OUT. Retrieved from https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/937882/Star-Wars-9-Yoda-Force-ghost-Luke-Skywalker-Frank-Oz-The-Last-Jedi-Mark-Hamill

Bhattacharjee, P. (2018, January 23). Yoga therapy Archives. Retrieved from https://www.indeedcare.com/blog/tag/yoga-therapy/