I Am Not Your Asian Stereotype | Canwen Xu | TEDxBoise

Summary

Canwen, an Asian-American, shares her experiences growing up in predominantly white communities where she grappled with her identity. She humorously recounts the stereotypes and microaggressions she faced, such as being asked where she's 'really' from, despite being born in the U.S. Canwen discusses the pressure to conform to whiteness and the loss of her cultural identity, leading to a realization of her internalized preference for white characters in The Sims 3. She challenges the 'model minority' myth and calls for recognition of the complex position of Asian Americans, urging for open conversations about race and the importance of embracing one's dual heritage.

Takeaways

• 😄 The speaker, Canwen, humorously starts by pretending to be a stereotypical Asian-American with specific interests and skills, then reveals it's a joke to introduce the topic of race.
• 🌐 Canwen shares her experience growing up as an Asian-American, highlighting the blend of two cultures and the challenges of living in areas with little racial diversity.
• 🏠 She discusses the feeling of being 'othered' and the pressure to conform to either Asian stereotypes or mainstream white culture, with no in-between.
• 🧮 Canwen expresses frustration with being typecast as good at math just because she's Asian, rather than recognizing her hard work.
• 💔 She describes the emotional toll of being seen as different and the impact it had on her identity, including feeling self-conscious about her race.
• 🗣️ Canwen addresses the cluelessness of people who, despite good intentions, ask annoying or inappropriate questions about her heritage and background.
• 🤔 She reflects on how the desire to fit in led her to reject her own culture and how this affected her self-esteem and relationships.
• 🎮 Through the story of playing The Sims 3, Canwen illustrates how she unconsciously normalized whiteness, showing the insidious nature of cultural assimilation.
• 🔍 Canwen discusses the complex role of Asian Americans as the 'model minority,' used to justify racism's non-existence while also being neither fully accepted nor rejected.
• 💬 She calls for open conversations about race, acknowledging the controversy but emphasizing the necessity of discussing these issues to promote understanding and change.
• 🌈 In conclusion, Canwen expresses pride in her dual identity, embracing both her American and Chinese heritage, and encourages others to find their own balance.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Canwen's speech?

The main theme of Canwen's speech is the exploration of her identity as an Asian-American and the challenges she faced growing up in predominantly white communities, including the pressure to conform to stereotypes or to whiteness.

Why does Canwen mention playing both the piano and the violin in the beginning of her speech?

Canwen mentions playing both the piano and the violin to humorously set up the expectation of a stereotypical Asian background before revealing that she is actually poking fun at these stereotypes.

What is the significance of Canwen's statement about being a 'bad driver'?

Canwen's statement about being a 'bad driver' is part of her initial joke to challenge and subvert racial stereotypes. It's a way to engage the audience and lead into a more serious discussion about race.

How does Canwen describe the experience of growing up in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Idaho?

Canwen describes her experience as being difficult due to the lack of racial diversity, which made it hard to reconcile her Chinese heritage with her American identity.

What are the two options Canwen felt she had to choose from while growing up?

Canwen felt she had two options: to conform to the stereotype expected of her as an Asian or to conform to the whiteness that surrounded her, with no in-between.

Why did Canwen feel self-conscious about being good at maths?

Canwen felt self-conscious about being good at maths because people would attribute her abilities to her being Asian rather than acknowledging her hard work.

What does Canwen mean when she refers to 'clueless' people?

Canwen refers to 'clueless' people as those who are not intentionally racist but are uninformed or ignorant about how to interact with or understand people of different races, leading to awkward or insensitive questions.

Why did Canwen feel the need to reject her own culture at some point in her life?

Canwen felt the need to reject her own culture to conform and be accepted by her peers, as she believed it would help her fit in better with the mainstream American culture.

What realization did Canwen come to when reflecting on the family she created in The Sims 3?

Canwen realized that she had unconsciously created a white family in The Sims 3, indicating that whiteness had become her norm, reflecting internalized preferences influenced by her environment.

How does Canwen describe the position of Asian Americans in the American melting pot?

Canwen describes Asian Americans as being in a perpetually grey zone, where they are not quite similar enough to be fully accepted but also not different enough to be loathed, often being used as a model minority.

What is Canwen's final message about her identity and how does she encourage others to reflect on their own?

Canwen's final message is one of pride in her dual identity as both American and Chinese. She encourages others to reflect on their own identities and consider how societal pressures may influence their self-perception and actions, without providing a step-by-step guide, allowing individuals to draw their own conclusions.