Yi Yang A01 Week 7

In this week's readings, what impressed me most is "Care Work: The Invisible Labor of Asian American Woman" written by Wei Ming Dariotis and Grace J. Yoo. In this article, the authors shared their experiences in care work for college students. They did a survey on Asian American Woman professors, and found out that Asian American women faculty fill the gap for so many infrastructure needs on college campuses. They end up caring more sometimes at the expense of their own professional development and health. The work of academy is not merely teaching knowledge, but also helping students learn mental health and well- being. 

In my opinion, as Asian American woman professors, they are more likely to care for students' mental health. Because they are a minority in the academic community, the pressures, inequalities and even racial discrimination that they experience can help them understand students' emotional problems. And students of Asian descent or color who study in the United States are more likely to seek their help. The students' experience may be one that has long been experienced by Asian American women faculty. I also sought the help of a female Asian professor from the same country as myself. I couldn't concentrate because something bad happened to me. I feel like I'm in a bad mood. I often leave in the middle of her class. I told her my feelings in her office hour, and we talked for a long time. She gave me a lot of advice and help, and even said that she could contact the school psychologist to help me. It was very relaxing to talk with her in our native language. Studying and living in a foreign country for a long time made me feel a lot of pressure. I am grateful to her for her help. 

Picture from https://news.gallup.com/poll/246017/student-support-faculty-mentors-varies-major.aspx

Reference Valverde, K.-L. C, & Dariotis W. M. (2020). Fight the Tower: Asian American Women Scholars' Resistance and Renewal in the Academy.Rutgers University Press