strong asian women - defined

[kasia]

how is the idea of a strong asian woman different from that of a strong white woman? is there a difference? if there is, from where do you think it stems? do you prefer one over the other?

[Pookie_gal]

how is the idea of a strong asian woman different from that of a strong white woman? is there a difference? if there is, from where do you think it stems? do you prefer one over the other?

I don't think it's so much a matter of a strong 'asian' woman vs a strong 'white' woman - I think a strong woman is so admirable, full stop. Doesn't matter what colour, age or background she is/has.

In this day and age, women have to fight so much just to get to where they want to be (not just in job and career, but also money) and women have to deal with so many obstacles (childbirth, always playing 2nd to men in the workplace etc). Maybe asian women have to deal with more, 'cos they also have to deal with issues of race.

I'm presuming that you're using the word 'strong' as in assertive and confident. To be strong emotionally is such an admirable trait too.

[nola]

i have the image of strong white women as career women and strong asian women as endurers of obstacles like racism.

[kasia]

i have the image of strong white women as career women and strong asian women as endurers of obstacles like racism.

ditto, but in addition - i have an image of a strong asian woman as one who has endured poverty.

[applehead]

ditto, but in addition - i have an image of a strong asian woman as one who has endured poverty.
this is probably due to the fact
that a lot of korean women
consider proper child raising the
most important thing in their life.

but i equate a strong asian woman
as a really tough mom, fiercely
loyal to their family along with the other
qualities of a strong woman.

with strong white woman, i don't necessarily
see motherhood as a part of it, it's more
in terms of career.

[Shuriken]

This has pretty much already been said: But Asian women are so often thought of as not being particularly "strong" that an Asian woman of self-confidence and self-resolve would probably have to overcome a lot of cultural hurdles. Also, a lot of white Americans may act surprised when they find an Asian woman standing up for herself.

[kasia]

This has pretty much already been said: But Asian women are so often thought of as not being particularly "strong" that an Asian woman of self-confidence and self-resolve would probably have to overcome a lot of cultural hurdles. Also, a lot of white Americans may act surprised when they find an Asian woman standing up for herself.

maybe that's how outside members view us, but i tend to think of a lot of asian women as strong. or is it just me?

[nola]

the strongest- because of the endurance factor.

it's like, wait until the mom's inside the house, she'll lay down the law.

[tapestrybabe]

to give all my due respect
to my adoptive mother...
i believe she's a strong women, whose fiercly loyal
to her family... in whom takes on the role
of motherhood as her most important role in her life...
and i give the same respect to my sister...
who got pregnant at age 16...
taking pride how well she's done raising her daughter--
my niece whose now 17 years old...
in whom i deem has developed into becoming a
another strong women...
and hoping the women in my family...
will have influence in passing down their inner strength...
to my brothers new daughter...
and yes, my mother and sister happen to be both *white*

my korean mother--
wheres her sense of loyality to her family??
where's her sense of loyality
to her own korean daughter??
her sense of loyality to ME??

yeah, i resent comments that
insinuate white mothers...
not taking on a the role of motherhood
as not being their top priority...

and i think its UNFAIR to insinuate that
asians inner strength cant be defined by their career...
i mean, hell yeah... i would view any asian female
making it to the top as having inner strength...
i mean, how many asian females make it
to become CEO of a company??

my current mentor is a korean american woman...
50 years old, married, and has no children by choice...
and she's created a successful life thru her career-
her art school buisness... and she stays very much in touch
with the korean community and its culture...
being also a teacher at the nj korean school...

so what makes my mother and my mentor different when it comes to their inner strength... being strong women?? while both may possess independance, being able to think for themselves, speaking up, self confidence... i think the difference lies in what other ppl have said-- the endurance factor...

at the moment... i feel i'm closer with my mentor...
i have a better relationship with her...
i think due to the fact shes a korean female...
just like me...
this is not to say...
i look down upon my own mother...
but there are just some things...
i feel better expressing with my mentor instead...
like my sense of alienation, isolation,
i tend to feel about myself...
cultural issues and other stuff...
and being able to see my mentor...
become the successful korean woman she is...
is an inspiration when it comes to
seeing myself overcome, endure whatever obstacles...
i face with myself...

[AngryABCGirl]

When I think of strong Asian women, I tend to think more in terms of women who have had to run away from wars and caught up in history and survived through that adversity. I tend to think of my grandmother as my model of a strong Asian woman even though she was never educated and never held a job, but she lived through hella shit and managed to raise her daughters to be strong Asian women as well to assert our voices, to get an education, etc.

Besides that, I really look toward older Asian women, whether it be an old lady or a senior in college as the strongest human beings on earth. Maybe it's surviving and thriving doubly through our histories and also the current racist and exotifying society we live in today and being able to stand up.

I dunno how to relate to white women and the idea of being a strong woman because I am so unfamiliar with white American culture or what its supposed to be, except I really hate the way white women have this snooty attitude of I'm more free than though because nobody bound my ancestor's feet or something.

[artsfartsyjanet]

I think strong White women endure a lot as it is, but I also consider strong Asian women enduring a lot more too (adding race and/or poverty into the equation). I have the perception that others outside of my race are not used to an assertive and confident Asian/Asian American woman. My mother, I must say, did not instill the assertiveness or the confidence in me. I gained that through learning outside of home. She discouraged me from doing the things I liked and dismissed them as unlady like.

[AngryABCGirl]

I think strong White women endure a lot as it is, but I also consider strong Asian women enduring a lot more too (adding race and/or poverty into the equation). I have the perception that others outside of my race are not used to an assertive and confident Asian/Asian American woman. My mother, I must say, did not instill the assertiveness or the confidence in me. I gained that through learning outside of home. She discouraged me from doing the things I liked and dismissed them as unlady like.

Sometimes I get pissed when women outside of my race think we can't be assertive and confident. Ok maybe I get pissed all the time, and somewhere in the back of my mind nd this is especially to white American women, I can't help but think, "You will never be as strong and endure what we have endured and only hope to have as much power as we Asian women have in ourselves"

[moser]

^ Or that when a non-Asian (particularly white) woman is being confident, it's recognized as confidence and assertiveness, whereas where an Asian woman (and many times other non-white) is being assertive, it's considered to be "having an attitude" or being "uppity" or "bitchy" or "rude."

------------------------------------
Not my personal view, but:
Strong white woman: has "everything" (SO, family, career, place to live, etc.) and is assertive and confident, sometimes has overcame a tragedy such as death of family member.
Strong Asian woman: Endured (choose at least two): evil oppressive husband/family, evil Commies, poverty, raising 5 kids by self, loss of child, crime against said strong Asian woman, etc., etc.

Criteria for Asian woman is a wee bit higher.

[applehead]

to give all my due respect
to my adoptive mother...
i believe she's a strong women, whose fiercly loyal
to her family... in whom takes on the role
of motherhood as her most important role in her life...
and i give the same respect to my sister...
who got pregnant at age 16...
taking pride how well she's done raising her daughter--
my niece whose now 17 years old...
in whom i deem has developed into becoming a
another strong women...
and hoping the women in my family...
will have influence in passing down their inner strength...
to my brothers new daughter...
and yes, my mother and sister happen to be both *white*

my korean mother--
wheres her sense of loyality to her family??
where's her sense of loyality
to her own korean daughter??
her sense of loyality to ME??

yeah, i resent comments that
insinuate white mothers...
not taking on a the role of motherhood
as not being their top priority...

and i think its UNFAIR to insinuate that
asians inner strength cant be defined by their career...
i mean, hell yeah... i would view any asian female
making it to the top as having inner strength...
i mean, how many asian females make it
to become CEO of a company??


before you jump to conclusions
never did i say i consider all korean women being only good mothers
and bad businesspeople and not very career oriented.
and never did i write that all white women don't
consider motherhood their top priority.

[Banana]

Errr, my post was deleted?

It was supposed to be sarcastic. :|

[applehead]

for all the guys who decides to comment on our
threads here with stupid jokes and onliners
and sarcasm. whatever. I DON'T CARE.
read this thread.

http://forums.yellowworld.org/showthread.php?t=20237

[Banana]

k.

[BigLew]

Don't hurt me. Speaking from an American woman where the white woman is the majority. I think a strong Asian woman is probably stronger than your average strong white woman. She has alot more shit on her plate to deal with.

Most of the women here fit that role. That's why I am intimidated by yall and stick to my weak white women.


my korean mother--
wheres her sense of loyality to her family??
where's her sense of loyality
to her own korean daughter??
her sense of loyality to ME??
Werd dammit!

[nola]

Women of color can be alot angrier hence scary to men.

[AngryABCGirl]

Women of color can be alot angrier hence scary to men.

Yeah, I think I scare people more cause I'm an East Asian woman whose angry too because I'm not supposed to be, they'd rather have me be a Miss Saigon whore or something. A lot white guys and men of color I know think I'm hella scary or that I'm just a pissed off bitch.

[nola]

Your username probably scares alot of YW men.