I hesitate to ask the question, 'Where are the Asian feminists?' because I know that we are many and are strong in numbers. However, the hashtags #asianfeminist and #asianfeminism are scant on social media and it mystifies me as to why this is given the plethora of Asian women who are challenging the strictures of our patriarchal driven society.
One of the reasons I starred in the Channel 4 documentary, 'Mums Make Porn', was to help raise consciousness and conversations in the Asian community about sexuality. Since the show ended, I have met many savvy Southeast Asian feminists who are quietly and not-so quietly writing their stories and speaking up about their feminism. These personal experiences are not just about breaking sexual boundaries set for us as women. I have heard amazing struggles about overcoming disability, choosing one's own life partner and other every day issues.
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| Publicity photo from 'Mums Make Porn' |
Feminism is about everyday issues, every day struggles and everyday lived experiences. Black feminism has a strong movement and following which runs a continuum from the history of slavery to present time. Asian feminism has many overlaps with Black feminism and a similar rich cultural and history aspect which needs to be amplified by us, the modern Asian women.
Every Asian feminist has a ground breaking anecdote to tell. Individually, we have relatable stories to tell, ones that will capture the attention of others and inspire other Asian women. It's not just about inspiring others like us. It's about raising attention and educating others about our brand of feminism.
So get your hashtags out when using your social media.
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