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“Find Your Voice”: Safe Spaces to Discuss Asian Female Stereotypes

A Find Your Voice (FYV) workshop will be held this Friday for Asian women who feel that stereotypes, such as speaking softly or acting modestly, hold them back personally or professionally.

The three-hour workshops, hosted by the International House and the Women’s Center, are designed to help students address stereotypes surrounding Asian culture. Each one starts with a meditative, calming introduction that encourages students to be aware of their current conditions, which is followed by different discussion topics. No workshop contains more than 20 women.

“I gained a sense of unspeakable relief that what I felt—what had once made me feel isolated among my peers—was not foreign to other people,” said Anchi Wu, a sophomore studying biomedical engineering. “I would recommend FYV to any Asian or Asian-American woman.”

Helen Wu, who earned her master’s in East Asian Studies last year, said she values modesty and quiet but that it doesn’t mean she’s the same as every other Asian woman. “I think people's attitudes and behavior are really context-dependent,” she said. “Sometimes you may be quiet, but sometimes you may not be if you are with people you feel comfortable with.” Other past participants agreed it can be frustrating and unfair to be viewed not as individuals but rather “grouped” by others who homogenize Asian culture.

Participants, however, said they do recognize some common characteristics in their own lives. Some felt challenged about speaking up in academic settings. Others said they did not want to seem self-segregating, but at the same time felt more comfortable spending time with other Asians.

Find Your Voice aims to create a space where all of these experiences can be expressed and acknowledged. The next workshop will take place in the Women’s Center lounge at 5:30 p.m. Friday, after a light dinner is served at 5 p.m. Register here or contact SangHee Jeong, program coordinator at the International House, at sanghee.jeong@duke.edu.