The Place With No Name

On April 23rd, 2011, a group of second-generation Taiwanese American women decided to pioneer the discussion of sexuality at the North American Taiwanese Women's Association Annual Convention. Turns out that several of the group members had been in or produced The Vagina Monologues and wanted to share a version of this with the Taiwanese American community. It proved to be a controversial event fraught with discussions over whether or not to give a name to a body part that had not been discussed while growing up. It was evident that many of the women had been taught "nothing," "nothing," "nothing at all" about their sexuality while growing up in Taiwanese immigrant families.

Here is a sample of some of the responses to the questions posed on an online survey used to create the script that would ultimately be used for the skit: "The Place With No Name."



1. What did you learn about sexuality while growing up and how did you feel about your own?
Growing up I never knew there was a 3rd hole down there. I only thought there was one to niao niao(pee) and one to bung sigh (poop). How was I supposed to know? I didn't really have a reason to lookdown there.
2. Did your mom talk to you about sex and sexuality?
HELL NO! Not sure what the reason was, but I'm assuming it's a combination of language and culturaldifferences.
3. What did your mother teach you about the vagina?
NOTHING. NOTHING. NOTHING.
4. What do you call your vagina?
Don't really have a name for it...maybe I should!
5. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of your "vagina"?
I don’t think I ever think about my vagina….
6. There are thousands of women whose "vagina" are unwillingly violated every year (e.g. raped, soldfor prostitution, genocide, etc.). What would you say to these women?
It is not your fault...you do not deserve this. you are not alone.
7. How do you feel about your sexuality now?
With age I discover a power with my sexuality, that the femal form is beautiful, female voiceis enchanting, and female touch on big or little things goes a long way. I am happy to be a woman. Being a woman gives me power.
8. What advice would you give to your daughters or nieces (current or future ones)?
Your body belongs to you and nobody else. Don't let anyone else make decisions about your body and sexuality. You are who you are and you should be proud of it.

Perhaps most encouraging is that some of the first generation women of the audience were inspired to produce their own version of this skit for the next convention. What a way to reclaim the place with no name!

What messages did you grow up learning about sexuality?

Isit ever okay to say: "Ching chong, ling long..."

If you've heard of Andrea Wallace, then it's because you've seen her rant on YouTube. What do you think? Does free speech make hate speech acceptable?

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/03/22/ucla_student_s_youtube_video_illustrates_many_asian_racial_stereotypes

Were she referring to any other group, do you think there would have been a different response from the community?

Asian American parentified children?

In psychology, there's a term called the parentified child. This is usually due to the family system not working the way it's supposed to. For example, in a Western family there would be the parents and the children. If mom or dad aren't able to serve the roles that they typically would (e.g., provide for the kids' basic needs), then there is a role reversal where the children might step up and taken care of themselves or their siblings. This is sometimes seen in the family where a parent is an alcoholic.

Sometimes, it may seem that Asian American families appear to have parentified children. For example, one of the children might be designated to call credit card companies or read mail on behalf of the parents. While it may appear to be dysfunctional, the difference is that the child is not truly parentified (the power structure of the family system hasn't changed). Instead, the child is serving as a linguistic or cultural broker on behalf of the family. This is not uncommon for immigrant or refugee families. This is also differentiated from the families of parentified children because children who serve as language/cultural brokers may still need to defer to their caregivers for their other basic needs.

What other ways are Asian vs. Western families different in the American culture?

Asian mothers

Parenting leads to who are today. How were you raised? Do you believe in tough love? Read about one parent who is proud of using traditionally Eastern parenting methods.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html

This has stirred controvery considering the efforts made to dispel the model minority myth. What are your thoughts about strict parenting styles?

Is a headache just a headache?

Why do some people get headaches when they are sad or stomach aches when they are anxious? To learn more about how our mind and bodies may be connected, check out:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6138562/somaticization_disorder_symptoms_help.html?cat=5

What to do if you suspect somatic disorders related to mental or mood issues? Rule out physiological reasons for your somatic complaints by going to your primary care physician. Request a referral for a mental health professional if physical symptoms persist and there is no medical explanation for your stomach ache, head ache, skin rash, etc.

Mental Health in China

How does mental health in China compare to mental health for Chinese Americans? A recently disturbing article highlights how stigma can prevent individuals from getting proper care for mental disorders. In the link below, one will see how manageable mental illnesses can impact society if left untreated.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/11/world/asia/11psych.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

What are your thoughts about consequences of untreated mental illnesses? Barriers to treatment due to lack of knowledge, lack of resources, or stigma can end up negatively affecting our communities.

Stress in Los Angeles

We've heard about the American Psychological Association's Stress in America survey. Do you know the stress levels for your local area? Find out what stresses Angelenos out:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7775744

Check out the video and see what you can do to help alleviate stress. What do you do to destress?