Chenyu Yang, ASA, A03, Week8 Blog

For centuries, there has already been a huge difference with the way women were viewed in comparison to men. Being a woman, even during these times where we are already modern, challenges  the various parts of identity that we had already formed for ourselves. I am amazed with the perspectives that I have seen demonstrating what women experience in their day to day experience in the university.

Race and gender are sometimes causes of exclusion, and this unfortunately include our Asian women in the universities (Chou & Feagin, 2015).. In the reading materials it is evident how the voices of these women were seen as irrelevant. In  the reading materials, the effect of society in building a culture of exclusivity and how this becomes a cycle penetrating the self-esteem, identity, and beliefs of the woman involved was discussed.. There were also instances where comments did not intend to be hurtful but it had an unwanted effect due to the long-standing culture and the worn out esteem of the woman in the university.

I believe that aside from focusing on how the society has built a culture which was not welcoming to those colored hardworking women, the readings were able to showcase the benefits of having a support system while pursuing both life and career. The people and the work place itself had both caused doubts regarding an individual’s own purpose and capabilities in the things that she does, but these should not be the reason for defeat and should otherwise serve as in inspiration to push back an carry on in this kind of harsh and unjust community.There are so many roles that a woman has to be in a lifetime and most of them are simultaneously done. The presence of empathy and the support of women towards each other helps in raising awareness and rebuilding a social structure that has been oppressive  to asian women in the university.

References

Carden, K. (2020). Chains and Freedom. photograph

Chou, R. S., & Feagin, J. R. (2015). Myth of the model minority: Asian Americans facing racism. Routledge.

Valverde, K. L. C. (2013). Fight the Tower: A Call to Action for Women of Color in Academia. Seattle J. Soc. Just., 12, 367.