Eden Knight Week 5

Eden Knight
A03
Week 5 Blog Post

“The Cost of Speaking” by W.P. was a moving piece to read. The Cost of Speaking is high, but it is much higher when powerful people want to shut you down. These days, it is not enough to just speak up and make a stand for what is right. Severe public steps need to be taken. Agencies and lawyers need to be brought in. The public needs to know what has happened and one voice is not enough to persuade the public. W.P. mentioned consulting the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This is a brave move but the right one. The EEOC was established to help minorities. It is designed to help people in situations like the author. But the EEOC power is limited by the power of the opposition. W.P.’s opposition, the University, did everything to silence the author. They played mind games and set up countless hurdles. Fighting a battle like this is mentally and physically exhausting. It has negative consequences on every aspect of the individual’s life. It is enough stress to force anyone to question: is this worth it?

Silence is a stereotype of Asians. From the Model Minority Myth, we are accepted but on the white man’s terms. We behave, we follow the rules, we excel but not too much, and we most certainly do not have a voice. We are meant to be seen but not heard. And when we do make a stance against this stereotype, we are punished.

I cannot make a blog post about the Cost of Speaking without addressing the Cost of Speaking in Asian countries. W.P.’s experience was in America. Although the cost of speaking out against the establishment is high, it is nothing compared to China, North Korea, Russia and countries in South East Asia. Americans are fortunate to be able to fight against what is wrong. You can protest, share your beliefs, post online freely and take establishments to court. Chinese individuals that speak out against the Chinese government disappear. Protestors are prosecuted or worse. 

Image: Countries coded by respect for Press Freedom

Source:

Image: https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/press_freedom_map.htm

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.