Tian Tian, A03, Week 1

Tian Tian

ASA2 A03

Week 1 Blog

Refelction of Coronavirus

In recent months, we are living under the shadow of the coronavirus. I come from china. Since January, I have seen the serious results caused by the coronavirus that lots of people died, and people stayed home for safety. Because of knowing how the seriousness of coronavirus, when there were few confirmed cases appeared in America, lots of my Chinese friends and I chose to wear the mask to protect other people and us. It is a common way in China to prevent the speared of the virus. However, I gradually found there is another meaning about wearing masks in the local people's views. I asked some local friends about their opinions about wearing masks. They said only sick people would wear a mask and they might feel unsafe if others are all wearing masks. Thus, I realized whether wearing a mask or not is a debate between two different cultures. Because of the long incubation period of the coronavirus, people may not be conscious that they carry the virus. The solution made by China is to ask everyone to wear a mask to prevent the spread of the virus. While in America, people think you only wear a mask when you are sick, so people who wear a mask may carry the coronavirus. 

Different opinions are not irreconcilable. As long as gaining communication, like the discussion I had with local friends, people from both sides could understand each other. However, what is deleterious is that different opinions may breed contradiction and even hatred. Racism is what appeared in this debate. There have been numerous attacks on ethnic Asians wearing masks recently. Several days ago, an Asian woman who wore a mask was attacked at a subway station in New York. Coronavirus has been an excuse for racist crime.

It reminds me of the experiences of Professor Valverde. Because of existing discrimination towards race, gender, class, ethnicity, disability, and motherhood, even though you have done nothing wrong, you may be attacked and mobbed. The only way out is fighting. I affect and admire Professor Valverde's courage to speak out. Though the discriminatory practices which appear as microaggressions are hard to prove, you need to speak out and show people your firm attitudes. It is a long way to go, and it will be setbacks and different voices on the route, but we need to show our unweaving stand. What we quest is the equal right to speak and respect. What we wish is when there is another divergence due to cultural differences, we can communicate peacefully without fear and hesitation.

Question for the reading:

When I read the part that women refrain from accepting family recommendations for childbearing, I realized it is a perennial problem. I am considering what will be a fair way for women and men to have the family recommendations? How to allay women’s fear of being less competent because of their family and children?

Citation:

Valverde, K.-L. C., & Dariotis, W. M. (2020). Fight the tower: Asian American women scholars resistance and renewal in the academy. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Pic is screenshot from New York Post

Woman wearing face mask attacked in possible coronavirus hate crime. (2020). Woman wearing face mask attacked in possible coronavirus hate crime. New York Post, NY.