Speaking from Ann Arbor, Michigan, through a video chat on Google Hangouts, activist SooJi Min told students in the Asian Culture Center how to speak out about Asian American stereotypes and be active community members.
The event was part of the ACC’s “Over a Cup of Tea” program, which features monthly discussions about issues facing those at the cultural center. Min’s discussion was planned in honor of International Women’s Day. Vanessa Teck, an incoming doctoral student, moderated the video discussion.
Min is currently the board of directors’ secretary for the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum and has years of experience in areas like management, development and advocacy. She spoke to an audience of 14 people on Wednesday about ways they can influence their communities and speak about the stereotypes many Asian Americans face.
“For us to engage in this, we need to heal our own distrust and fears,” Min said.
To do this, Min said it is important for people to find their authentic selves and recognize their responses to discrimination, whether it be overt or casual. These responses take the form of fight, flight or freeze, she said.
Melanie Castillo-Cullather, the director of the ACC, said she has found many people often do not know how to respond in situations of casual discrimination.
“It often leaves people jarred and questioning their identity,” she said.
Finding one’s authentic self would allow people to gauge their responses in advance and know how to respond to similar situations, Min said. She said these responses are conditioned by personal experiences and will determine others’ perceptions.
She stressed the importance of engaging in small ways throughout the community to become empathetic to others. This will allow people to understand each other and change the way they think, she said.
“Know who you are and share that with others,” Min said.
By lifting up individuals’ stories and experiences, Min said it was possible to combat the stereotypes many Asian Americans, especially Asian American women, face on a daily basis.
There are many perceptions that Asian Americans and wanted students to take away the small ways they could combat those stereotypes, Sarah Stamey, program associate at the ACC, said. She said she hoped the event would inspire students to do small things to make a difference.
Educating people about women’s rights, especially those about Asian American women, was echoed by Malina Xiong, the president of the Asian American Association.
“There is this generalization about them not being outspoken and coming across as quiet and unopinionated,” she said.
Min said to combat those stereotypes, people should take six steps to gain empathy for others. First, they should turn off their phones and turn their attention to those around them to notice body language and imagine the lives that each person lives.
Next, people should strike up a conversation with a stranger on public transportation and be a “roving reporter,” to find out how other people perceive the world, Min said.
Third, she told attendees to introduce themselves to a new person or neighbor to create a community where people watch out for each other. Fourth, she suggested attendees talk to someone of an opposing political stance and listen to the reason they came to that stance and why they believe in it.
“The more we learn about others’ history and stories, the harder it is to distrust them,” she said.
Fifth, when experiencing discrimination, Min told students they should not fight. Instead people should express how a particular sentiment was hurtful. Finally, she told attendees just to listen to the stories of those around them.
Sharing stories, she said, is the way to break down a single-minded stereotype about women or minorities.
“It’s really important that all of our experiences are lifted up and shared,” she said.
Teck said she experienced similar feelings herself.
“For me, knowing Asian American women are doing incredible things tells me and validates that I can have dreams and aspirations, too,” she said.
