How do we overcome gendered and cultural expectations as Asian Australians?
GENDERED EXPECTATIONS IN ASIAN AUSTRALIAN CULTURE
A chat with Vi-An and Asami from Shapes and Sounds.
Space is limited. Reserve your spot now.
TOGETHER WE'LL DISCUSS:
- Why are the expectations so different for men and women in Asian cultures?
- Why is gender identity often so binary in Asian cultures?
- In what ways do gender and culture intersect to affect our mental health?
- How do we overcome gendered and cultural expectations?
- And how do we navigate these often outdated norms and expectations as Asian Australians (living in the modern day world)?
VI-AN LE NGUYEN
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Hi there, I'm a psychologist focusing on the areas of women’s mental health and cross-cultural experiences. I previously worked in professional services in the area of organisational performance and leadership, having completed my Masters of organisational psychology.
I'll help us to create structure and systems to navigate this big discussion with ease.
ASAMI KOIKE
FOUNDER, SHAPES AND SOUNDS
Hello, I founded Shapes and Sounds after working in the context of youth mental health and developmental trauma. It only took me five years to see that our current mental health system doesn't respond adequately to the needs of our Asian Australian community, which then compelled me to start this project.
I'm really interested in asking all the difficult questions so that we can slowly start to dismantle the status quo.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW:
NEED SOME CONTEXT? HERE'S A SHORT STORY:
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always proudly said things like, "I’m not like other Japanese women" and the older I get, the more I see how incredibly loaded this statement is.
- What does it even mean to be a Japanese woman?
- Am I still a "Japanese woman" even if I hate cooking and have strong opinions?
- Why do I still feel a need to resist these gendered expectations even though I've lived the majority of my life outside of Japan?
I know that I carry a lot of emotion around this (mostly anger), but I’m often confused by what exactly it is that's causing my anger.
On the one hand, I’m angry at the Western world which systemically doesn’t seem to recognise my strength and power. And on the other hand, I’m angry at the pervasive perspectives that have somehow fetishised and idolised the “Japanese woman” leaving anyone who doesn’t fit into this narrow view as, “not Japanese”. And, I’ll just need a third hand here, to hold the anger I feel towards Japan’s deeply misogynistic culture which just doesn’t seem to progress in time with other parts of the world.
