Jessie Benedict, A01, Week 4

In this week’s reading “Killing Machine: Exposing the Health Threats to Asian American Women Scholars in Academia”, the authors discuss the adverse health effects faced by Asian American women in academia. These women are “exposed to insidious microaggressions from superiors, colleagues, and students” (Valverde & Dariotis, 35) and face immeasurable stress as they fight for the recognition and rights that they deserve. Unfortunately for most, it has taken a serious toll on their health, with some even resulting in death.

Perceived as “passive and unlikely to be leaders”(Valverde & Dariotis, 35), I find it unfair how American Asian women in academia have to work so much harder in order to achieve leadership positions. I think that because they have been given this stereotype, their colleagues and those in power believe that they know the strengths and weaknesses of these women, and are not willing to give them a chance to showcase their capabilities. The fact is that everyone has different characters and capabilities, and neither of those are defined by ethnicity or gender. I believe that Asian American women in academia know that not everyone understands this fact, and so they take on more workload and try their hardest to prove themselves in a system that is against them. They don’t get enough rest and continue to face covert discrimination and judgement by their peers. In the long-run, the build-up of stress, frustration and hurt would bring about serious effects on their physical and mental health. There is a need for resources to support these women in the workplace, but what’s even more important is a change in their hostile working environment.

Question: How should universities and companies provide the needed resources to support their workers mental and physical health?

References:

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.

Image: Zenger, J. (2017, June 23). 3 Reasons To Recruit And Select More Female Leaders. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackzenger/2017/06/22/3-reasons-to-recruit-and-select-more-female-leaders/