The vital, urgent need for a strong Asian American feminism
3 Responses | Leave a Comment »
Over the recent weeks, we have been involved in what has been for the most part a thoughtful, respectful discussion of the direction of Asian American feminism. I will say honestly however, that I am troubled by the fact that as usual, the majority of the talking has been done by men–Asian American or African American. However, with that said, here’s another treatise from an Asian American man.
The recent discussion has asked whether an Asian American feminist movement that is distinct from other feminist movements is necessary. Most have agreed that it is unnecessary and that the existing Asian American feminist movement is pathological and self-defeating.
The latter point is completely false. What people are pointing to as the Asian American feminist movement is simply a few high profile figures who have internalized mainstream racism.
The former point is only true in a binary system where sexism, racism, classism, sexual orientation discrimination and the like are completely isolated from each other. The need for an Asian American feminist movement that focuses on American sexism rather than a distant understanding of stereotyped Asian sexism is similar to a need for black anti-poverty movements–sure, it’s a multi-ethnic problem that isn’t directly related to ethnicity, but there are two important needs for an ethnicity-based group:
1) Poverty interacts with racism to exacerbate it.
2) Mainstream anti-poverty groups, being predominantly white, still aversively marginalize people of color.
This is the same for Asian American feminism:
1) Feminism reacts with racism in ways that a predominantly white feminist group is unlikely to address.
2) Feminist groups that are predominantly white are likely to marginalize Asian American women, especially those who do not accept mainstream feminist ideas of demonizing men, particularly men of color.
The problem is not that there is Asian American feminism or that it is too far from ethnic majority feminism. The problem is that it is too close to ethnic majority feminism and therefore internalizes that movement’s inherent racial privilege and racism.
When we focus on the racism inherent in the mainstream feminist movement reflected in Asian Americans and then vilify Asian American feminism, we are making the same mistake–blaming our Asian American siblings for the internalization of mainstream feminism.
The question then is, “Why do we see it so strongly in feminists who happen to be Asian American and less so in mainstream feminists?” The answer is that mainstream communities are 1) disinterested in Asian American issues, and 2) happy to allow Asian American women to mouthpiece for their racist perspective. Why do you think that there’s so much overt bad blood between the Latino, Asian and African American communities? Because we actually have to interact on issues of race, while whites can avoid them most of the time.
In the same way, Asian American women and men interact on these issues on a much more intimate, gritty level than mainstream America engages us. Those at an underdeveloped sexual level are enticed to mutually annihilate each other with opposing, “AFs belong to us–they are stealing OUR women!” and “I can date anyone else, so I’m going to act on my internalize racist impulses and there’s nothing you can do about it”. But we can let our entire community to destroy itself on that level.
We need to stop blaming each other. The problem is not the existence of an Asian American feminist movement. The problem is that it is not strong enough and not supported enough. Let’s change that so we cease to buttress ethnic majority racist/sexism. Instead of focusing on the so-called “feminist” equivalents of Michelle Malkin, why not support the sisters who are embracing a true Asian American feminism–sure they are lower profile but that’s only because mainstream America in its racism would never embrace them and as a community we are doing a shitty job lifting them up, learning from their wisdom and fighting along side them in our great battle.
A battle, as always that we must fight unceasingly and we must win.
Leave a Comment »
Share
Entries (RSS)
nightshade
2:30 pm | Apr 05, 2008I think you and Jaehwan are on the same page–both of you are trying to figure out how to bring the community together and stop the divisive fights.
It’s hardly feminist to believe that women deserve to be treated with respect–that should be a given. The problem that women face in this country is the white patriarchy, not the boohoo so-called oppressiveness of some Asian American dudes on the Internet who hate seeing an Asian sister with a white man.
I don’t think that anyone said that a distinct feminism practiced by Asian American women (and men) wasn’t necessary to building our community. If that is how my words were interpreted, I’m really disappointed.
There is a difference between asking for basic rights, and being a “feminist.” Given the current state of feminism, Asian or otherwise, in North America today, I’m pretty ashamed of these privileged women exercising the right to be narcissistic. This narcissism is not feminism. Can we please stop calling it feminism and labelling opponents of this bullshit anti-feminist?
I’m kind of sick of men implying that they are more feminist than I am.
Also, given the fact that Asian American women are more visible than Asian American men, at a certain point we have to examine how our actions as privileged Asian American women are oppressive. What is the use of gaining personal freedoms if these freedoms come at the cost of people in our community?
No one here is attacking poor women who are being abused by their husbands. Far from it. But we’re mixing up discussions about class, race and gender and not applying the correct arguments to specific cases.
I seriously doubt any woman who is struggling to raise children in shitty conditions, and who knows that what is happening to her is unjust, would even think for a second to call herself a feminist. Is her struggle any less important because she doesn’t use fancy jargon?
Calling oneself a feminist is a really privileged position, especially in the context of our community, where our men are pretty much invisible in media, positions of power and authority. Can we remember this? Can remember that our stance is a privilege, and that we should exercise our privilege with compassion and caution?
jaehwan
10:21 pm | Apr 05, 2008Actually most of the talking has been done by men–Asian American or MelaninManson. :) Haha…
I don’t think anyone here is blaming Asian American women. If I say that there was a historical Asian American feminist movement led by Hong Kingston and Tan that demonized Asian American men, I’m not blaming anyone other than the people who created that racist movement. I should be able to say this without offending strong Asian American women like nightshade and BTB and cattygurl because I’m simply stating the fact that a major engine of racism against Asian American men has been Asian American feminism. This is a historical truth. We saw this happen yet again with “Falling for Grace.”
In fact, it could be received as a gesture of faith when I say that I see them outside of the AA feminist movement. It means that I respect them for their individual stands against racism, a stand which is the exact opposite of Kingstonism.
My point in Rheinlander was that a real Asian American feminism can take place, but I still believe that all Asian American empowerment movements need to acknowledge and comment on the past AA feminist movement. Those past AA feminists are not that few in number–in addition to Kingston, there’s Tan, Patricia Chao, Fay Ann Lee, Lisa See, Cathy Bao Bean, Nick Kristof (who writes great articles on non-cultural issues but is a total closet orientalist), etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. They are just the figureheads, but they have lots of followers. I’m not saying that we need to fight against them head to head–maybe these “leaders” really are simply misguided–but we need to at least acknowledge that:
a) They’ve done tremendous damage
b) We’re seeking to repair that damage
c) We may all be Asian, but our movement doesn’t include their actions
Even though we didn’t support them in what they did, we all, male and female, need to take responsibility for their actions, much like Germans today have to take responsibility for what people of their culture did a long time ago. Anything less than this, I believe, prevents our community from lifting up our real Asian American feminists.
jaehwan
10:25 pm | Apr 05, 2008One more thing–when I refer to the “past AA feminist” movement, I’m also talking about the dominant movement today. I’m using the word “past” because I hope that that movement someday will be in the past.