a broken window rattles in my left ear, cochlear implants doing god’s work my limbs feel detached lately i hate defiance; i hate myself i have big hands that i use to scratch my scars and to occasionally write hymns of my stupid life i wish there were an implant to fix these hands of mine i’ve noticed at night that my belongings sprout claws and watch my insomnia with cruel gazes aimed at my thoughts until they stop at you. the window seals its cracks the metal rattling fades my limbs pick themselves up off the ground and my grimy fingers shorten a few inches as the leers on my belongings are wiped clean the thought of you makes me whole again. Editors: Blenda Y., Phoebe H., Alisha B. Image: Paul Cézanne, The Card Players, ca. 1892–96, oil on canvas (Musée d’Orsay, Paris)

Everything, Everywhere, All at Once - a laudable film that distinctly centers an Asian-American narrative - dominated at the 96th Annual Academy Awards with seven wins and eleven nominations. For good reason. The film is heartwarming, heartbreaking, brilliant, and complex. Its success is groundbreaking in the Asian-American community. Michelle Yeoh is the first Southeast Asian-American woman to earn the Best Actress Oscar, and many applaud Ke Huy Quan of Indiana Jones and The Goonies fame for his comeback, when he was initially pushed into retirement during the early 2000s for a lack of opportunity. With the film’s astounding success in mind, I’d like to reflect on some historic films that—like Everything, Everywhere, All at Once—have transformed pop culture by including Asian-American actorsand Asian-American culture in their narratives. Everything, Everywhere, All at Once Where to begin with this movie - first and foremost, it is strange. It is a wonder how a sci-fi comedy, a film often overlooked by the Academy and often excluded from the category of “high art,” could become so universally loved. In watching the movie itself, however, its depth becomes abundantly clear. What this film proves is that Asian-American individuals can have many kinds of stories. A common pitfall I find in many movies that center Asian-American narratives (and in general, racial/ethnic minority narratives) is that sometimes, suffering and generational trauma is utilized in a tried and tested way to appeal to the audience. While Everything, Everywhere, All at Once still possesses some of the same features, it presents them in a deeply realistic manner - despite the movie being incredibly sci-fi. Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) is more than a harsh tiger mom, and her relationship with her daughter, Joy (Stephanie Hsu) is the most realistic depiction I’ve ever seen. The frustration from both in attempting to understand one another is deeply understandable, with neither one being villainized. In addition, I find that many stories with these types of relationships tend towards villainizing the parent and depicting them as set in their ways - blunt and unchangeable. Evelyn is our complex main character - it is not so often you see an older, Chinese-American immigrant mother in a leading role on the big screen. This movie has more than earned all of its acclaims. Crazy Rich Asians This may seem an odd contender for “historic Asian-American films.” It’s a feel-good rom-com, a genre not typically known for its depth. I would argue that it is necessary, however, to acknowledge that many films featuring racial/ethnic minority characters are held to a high standard to perform as deeper and more meaningful than films that feature their white counterparts. Crazy Rich Asians, upon its release, was the first modern story with an all-Asian cast in 25 years - the last being The Joy Luck Club. It is an earnest, straightforward romance, and its road to production wasn’t easy. It is historic for the very reason that Asian-American actors are permitted to have a film that is simply fun - not just a romantic comedy, but a form of interesting lifestyle content on the lives of the Asian uppercrust. That isn’t to say the film is completely unserious or without depth - it centers a unique discussion on the clashing experience of mainland Asian and diaspora Asian individuals, featuring an Asian-American female lead alongside her wealthy mainland boyfriend. This is a discourse not too commonly acknowledged in any form of media, but deeply important nonetheless. Minari Make no mistake, Minari is a distinctly Asian-American film - despite a large portion of the film’s dialogue being in Korean. No film has so blatantly captured the struggles, successes, and mild comedy of being an American immigrant. The film follows a Korean family who has just recently moved to a small plot of land in Arkansas. Like the leafy green titular vegetable, the members of this family are transplants: settling their roots in new soil. What better way to capture this common Asian-American narrative? The film carries a tone of level realism, with each family member struggling in their new home. There are frustrations, struggles, and honesty. It is a deeply intimate look into what it means to be an American immigrant. To be clear, this is no glamorized American dream narrative. And how ironic that the film itself was placed as a contender (and awarded) for Best Foreign Film at the Golden Globes. The situation was comparable to the narrative presented in Minari. Filled with a little disappointment, but unfortunately, deeply realistic. Minari is a must-watch for those children of the diaspora, seeking comfort and yearning to be understood. The Farewell Another film that focuses on the disparity in the experiences of mainland Asian and Asian-American individuals, The Farewell follows Chinese-American Billi, who travels to Changchun to say goodbye to her grandmother, who is entirely unaware she has only a few weeks to live. The family gathers under the guise of a joyful wedding to explain their presence, cleverly deceiving the family matriarch. It is a story that puts tradition under the lenses of American youths. Billi is torn, navigating her family’s expectations and values alongside her own, conflicted over whether or not to reveal her grandmother’s condition to her. A heart-wrenching, honest, and incredibly witty film, The Farewell is a love letter to all those American immigrants who feel divorced from their own culture. Billi is an oddity to her family, with her parents concerned over how well she’ll be able to keep the secret. Nevertheless, her journey is one that is ultimately one of family and the complex dynamics that define it. The Half of It The Half of It follows Ellie, a young Asian-American girl, growing up in a small Canadian town. It is a sweet, simple coming-of-age film featuring an LGBTQ+ romance and a heartfelt friendship. It captures the somewhat suffocating experience of being a minority in a predominantly white town, unlikely but genuine friendships, and the distance between immigrant parents and their first-generation children. Ellie’s struggles are depicted relatably and with a certain sorrow. The story is simple, human, and small-scale - and something often missing from our Asian-American stories is these genuine, charming coming-of-age stories that don’t attempt a massive scope. What’s more, it doesn’t place great importance upon romance, but rather, friendship - the act of mutually understanding another person is a powerful one, especially when your lives and upbringings are so incredibly different. The titular half references the idea that humans were born with four legs, four arms, and two heads - but were then split in half, each half searching for their other perfect fit. The relationship in the story that embodies this myth is predicated upon that essential understanding of another person. These films are my personal favorites, and are wildly relevant to modern Asian-American cinema, often breaking free of the mold for minority stories in one way or another. This representation is incredibly transformative, bringing to light distinct issues in our community in a manner that is unique, genuine, and without romanticization. It is incredibly important to appreciate these films for what they are: instances of art that bring a marginalized group of people a form of comfort, and even more, a form of understanding. That is what art aims to do the most - to be understood and make others feel understood. Editors: Danielle C., Lang D., Marie H., Claudia S., Erika Sources: https://time.com/6262178/oscars-recap-2023/ https://time.com/longform/crazy-rich-asians/ Image Source: Unsplash

Dear Asian Youth, If the pandemic could end right now, what would you want from 2020? Here are some of the answers I received after asking my friends the same question: "I want a chance to play spring sports this year." "I want to go to that concert I've been waiting so long for." "I want to have the chance to get that summer body for the beach." "I want to have my senior prom and graduation with my friends." The list goes on and on, and I've never related to anything more. I've already lost the hope of having a huge 18th birthday celebration in June; I won't be able to see my senior friends for the last time; I haven't had bubble tea for two months! Needless to say, this year has changed our habits, our plans, our lives. But the fact remains: two pandemics are ravaging the world right now, and one has plagued us for centuries. The pandemic that never left us is xenophobia. We've all heard of Asians selling and eating infected bats or snakes, both raw and cooked; we’ve all seen the horrifying news circulating on social media. Headlines ruptured from various social media platforms: Elderly Chinese Man Collecting Cans in S.F. Assaulted by Group in Heartbreaking Viral Video, Korean Student Punched in the Face in NYC for Not Wearing a Face Mask, Teen Who Spat On, Threatened Asian Women With Knife for “Bringing Corona” to Australia is Arrested. The list never ends, and bullying and abusive language towards Asians have increased over 900% since COVID19 ransacked the word. However, these racist and seemingly intolerable actions are being justified and overlooked. How much more blatant racism do we have to endure before we start speaking up for ourselves? Everything is ignored until it's your grandpa who gets assaulted, your friend who gets attacked at school, or your mother who gets threatened and spat on while getting groceries. Allow yourself to be scared, but also allow yourself to be angry. We are repeating history. An official commission report dated back to 1884 concluded that “the Chinese are the filthiest and most disgusting, overcrowded hotbeds of disease and vice, disseminating fever and polluting the air all around.” The report also stated that syphilis, leprosy, and smallpox came from Asian communities. Over the next couple of decades, any and all recurring epidemics were miraculously blamed on the Asians -just as they are today. In example, President Trump’s recent choice in language has enraged the Asian community. He referred to COVID19 as the “Chinese virus”, and subsequently revived and provoked long-standing anti-immigrant narratives. In consequence with his rhetoric, we are seen as the physical embodiment of the virus. In the eyes of many, we are the disease itself. Hate speech and violent acts will not halt this pandemic. It will only deepen disunity in an already divided nation and undermine the collaborative effort necessary to defeat this virus. We must directly address issues of discrimination by dispelling negative attitudes and celebrating our nation’s diversity. It shouldn't be one race versus another race;it should be our humanity versus the virus. If you see hate, speak out. Be bold. People will support you. Stand by what you think is right. Be the person you will be proud of. If your family or friends are going through a hard time, be supportive. Offer to cook the meals, clean the house, and buy the groceries. Call your friends to remind them that you love them. Words mean more than you can imagine. If hateful words can hurt you, then kind words can cure you. If you are in a position to do more for your community, get involved. Volunteer for non-profit organizations. Help is accepted everywhere. Campaign for donations. Buy masks for frontline workers. There's so much you can do. So to answer my question, here is what I want from 2020: I want the underrepresented to be encouraged to speak up for themselves. I want to take our fear and transform it into words. I want to be able to safely say, "I am Asian, I look Asian, and I am proud to be Asian." I want 2020 to be the end of the pandemic known as xenophobia. Now, it’s your turn: if this pandemic could end right now, what would YOU want from 2020? - Emily Xu

a spoken word poem. watch the performance here. Dear Asian Girl, Let me tell you a story. She was young, at first. Young and proud, at first. Roots nurtured by her ancestors, she would lie on the ground to soak up their wisdom. Short, stubby branches reached out to touch their souls and she would feel the life that once danced on this sacred land. She would taste the golden nectar of her language from the seeds her mother planted. Her pride: the sunlight that fed, her stories: the sweet water that nurtured, her traditions: the soil—a structure of all things beautiful. But soon her branches grew, grew into the unknown and she went into the world in search of greener pastures. But instead she found dying roots. Savage—they called her. Chink, Paki, Dink, Gook, Raghead. They claimed she stung with her thorns but they didn’t know her thorns were her beauty. And they tainted her sunlight until the fire burned her insides, casted a dry spell until it robbed her of her water. Stole her fruit, Snapped her branches, Colonized her soil. Until her songs became only a faint memory on her lips and her stories stayed forgotten dreams. But Dear Asian Girl, Do not forget where you came from. Lie on the ground again and turn back the clock. Revisit your mother’s kitchen, fill the air with notes of sour and sweet and feel prickles of spice soothe your throat. And Dear Asian Girl, you know you’re home. Like that of a child, let your people’s lullaby sing you to sleep. Harmonize to a chorus so sweet that you can taste the wonders on your tongue. Because Dear Asian Girl, we sing our tunes in different tongues, different swirls and different drums beat the same beat. Our hearts still beat the same beat. And together, Asian girl, we create our own harmony- a battle cry so loud, you can hear it in your chest when you breathe and smell the burning fire when you scream. Look around you, see how far we’ve come? Well dear Asian girl, we’ve only just begun. - Stephanie Hu and Ashley Lee

Dear Asian Youth, Does anyone else distinctly remember when boys would come up to you, pull at their eyes, and yell, “Ching chong”? Yes, Connor, I’m looking at you (don’t think that I’ve forgotten!). It’s experiences like these that made me feel insecure about my Vietnamese features. Growing up in a predominantly white town in North Carolina, I was one of four Asian American students in my 5th grade class. Naturally, being surrounded by European features, I grew self-conscious and subsequently hated my small eyes and flat nose. My childhood is plagued with memories of me standing in front of the mirror, widening my eyes with my fingers, and pushing up the sides of my nose—all in an effort to conform to the eurocentric beauty standards around me. Beauty trends come and go. We’ve seen the era of big fluffy eyebrows, glowy glass skin, and the Kim Kardashian hourglass body shape. This summer, however, the trend seems to lean towards the notorious "Asian eyes". I’m sure you’ve heard of the fox eye trend on TikTok, where people shave off the ends of their eyebrows, slap on a bold liner, and tug at the corner of their eyes. Sounding familiar? People used to make that eye-pulling gesture to make fun of our small, narrow eyes, but now that non-Asian influencers are doing the same, it’s considered beautiful. Not only is this insensitive, but it’s hypocritical that, for years, I was told by society that my features were ugly. In a society where minorities’ cultures are often appropriated, I wasn’t surprised to learn that Asian features have become the new trend. We did not undergo years of ridicule for pop culture to turn our distinct features into the next beauty craze. The history of this mockery dates back to when the term “chink” was conceived as a racial slur in the 1860s towards the Chinese immigrants who built America’s transcontinental railroad. To this day, I have been called a “chink” by strangers passing by, and even by my own classmates. Society has a history of overlooking racism and normalizing offensive gestures and phrases. A classic case of this pattern of hostility was demonstrated in an incident that occurred during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. After South Korea’s staggering victory over Germany, Mexican T.V. hosts, James Tahhan and Janice Bencosme, used the slant eye gesture on live television as a sign of “appreciation” to South Korea for securing Mexico’s spot in the knockout stages. A simple “thank you” would have sufficed, but no. They had to use a demeaning gesture to imitate and poke fun at our features. Similarly, the Argentinian soccer manager, Diego Maradona, was seen at the FIFA games making the eye-pulling gesture to South Korean fans cheering for Argentina. It was only after he received widespread backlash that he released a message stating, “I, from afar, tried to tell them how nice it seemed to me that even the Asians cheer for us. And that’s all, guys, come on.” Maradona fails to recognize that hiding behind the cover of being “nice” does not even begin to justify the degrading and insensitive nature of his actions. Now, I’m not saying that this fox eye trend’s intention is to be racist, but it is ironic that the very people who participate in this trend today are the same people who insulted us for our eye shape. If you search up #foxeye on TikTok, the videos are flooded with comments of people voicing their opinions on this trend. @tvboba wrote, “It’s ok. They’ll just get wrinkles faster for pulling their eyes back so much.” I guess that’s a consequence they’ll have to deal with, right? At least we won’t be worrying about wrinkles in our 20s. Another user (@mina_myer) said, “I love how they like POC features when it’s not a POC.” Remember all the times the Kardashians wore cornrows in their hair? Or when Kacey Musgraves wore a traditional ao dai (a traditional Vietnamese dress) without pants? “Unless you're Asian… you don’t get to decide whether this trend is offensive or not. You haven’t been mocked at school for having small, upturned eyes,” wrote @amylei0. Today, the fox eye trend is just another example of the normalized racism that we experience on a day to day basis. This distinct feature of ours went from being something thousands of Asian Americans were bullied for and became insecure about, to a look that became “trendy,” just like that. Fortunately, we are seeing more Asian Americans come together as a community to speak up about the injustices we face. This surge in activism may be partly because of the recent rise of Asian representation in mainstream media. Blockbuster movies such as Crazy Rich Asians and the Academy Award-winning film, Parasite, have paved the way for diversity in Hollywood to be the norm. Even in the music industry, we are seeing genres like Kpop attract listeners from various races, not just the Asian community. On social media, movements such as #IAmNotCOVID19 and #RacismIsAVirus have emerged in light of the current pandemic to bring awareness to the recent surge in xenophobia. The good news is, we are not alone. Our voices and sense of empowerment are amplified by the support of fellow minority groups, such as the Black and Hispanic communities, who continue to stand by our side. It’s time that we stand up against the normalized racism in our society because eurocentric beauty standards shouldn’t be the norm, and racist gestures and phrases shouldn’t be a daily encounter. However harmless the fox eye trend may seem, the hypocrisy behind it disregards the years of torment we’ve endured. - Sunna Mai

Dear Asian Youth, The pandemic has been a mental rollercoaster for everyone. Personally, I have been bombarded with work, a multitude of deadlines, essays, and AP testing. While my struggles pale in comparison to others, I have seen a notable trend in the decline in happiness in all people, whether it be because of loneliness or the inability to work efficiently. However, with more research, I have noticed that the decline in happiness, in women specifically, isn't a new phenomenon. Now, I understand how absurd it sounds. The notion that women are becoming increasingly dissatisfied despite the undeniable progress we have made seems juxtaposed. Glass ceilings are shattered every day to mitigate stereotypes and attain equal rights. And with so many media outlets, it has never been easier for women to support one another. So the question begs: Why? Why is female happiness decreasing, in spite of our continuous progress? In short, there is an expectation that women should continue to do disproportionately high amounts of housework, despite having equal/similar jobs as men. It has been observed that for those employed for over 30 hours a week, whether that be a part-time job or being a housewife, happiness drastically decreases. Therefore, due to the increased levels of work, female leisure time is cut short, resulting in the rise of discontent. This downward trend has been recognized since the 1970s, just ten years after second wave feminist movements integrated large amounts of women into the workforce. This idea can be represented as a “second shift”, meaning women provide for both familial needs as well as entrepreneurial ones. The workload is then reinforced by gender roles that push for separation. There exists this expectation for women to “work like they don't have children” and “mother like they don't work outside the home”. Women are propped up to be submissive housewives, yet are simultaneously subjected to contemporary ideas. The sheer complexity of juggling two different lives and keeping them as separate entities is a taxing experience. While this may increase male happiness due to their reduced domestic responsibilities, women generally experience more stress. This counterbalances leisure-based satisfaction and destabilizes work-life balance. This double standard has penetrated every aspect of modern life -even mine. My mother was raised on the idea that she should be a good housewife and homemaker. Yet today, she defies many of these ideals by becoming a successful scientist. I can see her exhaustion after long days, yet she still determines to provide for my family to the best of her abilities. While this can be interpreted as her simply being a caring mother, it is important to recognize the gender norms that ultimately shape this type of behavior. Similar trends can be seen in the idea of a trophy wife. A trophy wife is often regarded as an achievement, but when the idea is flipped to a woman marrying a young, attractive man, it sounds off-putting. A comparable principle is applied here: a stay-at-home mom is normal, but many cannot sit comfortably with the idea of a stay-at-home dad. Essentially, these gender roles encourage traditional, as well as harmful patterns of increased stress among women. To lessen the burden of what we expect of women and what they expect of themselves, it is critical we first recognize that there is an issue. While it sounds simple enough, you’d be surprised to what degree we have ingrained the idea of gender roles into our daily lives. For women, this means self-evaluation of their circumstances and recognizing what expectations are placed on them. The more honest she is with the conditions, the more effective the outcome. Next, open communication within partners should be addressed. If someone is unhappy and feels they are overworked, then the issue should be approached and action should be taken. For example, conversations can be made to compromise switching off days doing the dishes, cooking for one another, etc. Finding that balance will ensure accommodation for both people's needs and provide arrangements accordingly. Fortunately for my mother, my father often cooks and does the chores with her. Between them, there is a mutual agreement that they need to share equal responsibility in the home. This mindset breaks down standards that would otherwise cause friction when combined with the lack of open communication. We must understand that the idea of gender roles is a false dichotomy, and realizing such helps to reduce stigma in society and increase happiness in women. - Allison Li

Dear Asian Youth, Although March 8th is National Women’s Day, women all over the world should be celebrated daily. However, many women in South Asian countries continue to suffer abuse at the hands of the men in their lives. Women who live in poverty often find themselves in a system they can never beat, as seen by the issue of abortions in South Asia. The stigma that surrounds abortions originate from and continue to perpetuate the gender oppression women face. As an Indian teenager myself, I am appalled when I see South Asian girls my age married and pregnant. It is crucial to bring awareness and break down the patriarchy dominating our nations. I hope to touch Asian youth, especially our dear Asian girls, and remind them that our fight for gender equality must stand strong in the face of repression. Before looking at abortions in South Asia, one must compare it to that of a developed socio-economic hub: the United States of America. On April 2, 2019, the Human Life Protection Act was signed in the state of Alabama, which worked to ban abortions at any stage of pregnancy. The act also delivered criminal charges for doctors who perform the procedure, except for cases of a medical emergency. With the Human Life Protection Act, even a rape victim would be denied access to an abortion during any trimester. Although U.S. District Judge, Myron Thompson, issued a preliminary injunction that prevented the act from entering into effect, just the proposal of such a legislation proves the fragility in a woman's right to choose. At first glance, abortions in Asia do not seem like a problem one would consider prevalent, as abortions are widely legal in most of the continent. However, after further analysis, the social stigma that comes with the procedure is unmatched. In most, if not all South Asian countries, gender inequality is kept alive by both patriarchal values and the opposition of women in places of power. In South Asia, children are nurtured from birth to take on traditional roles: girls are raised to be submissive and to keep their mouths shut, while boys are told to fight for dominance and be the caregiver of the family. In children's books I've read, the husbands becomes angry whenever their wife has a daughter, as males are supposedly the only “worthy” sex. Subsequently, young girls are brought up under the belief that they exist to submit themselves to men. According to Unicef, 1 in 2 girls are married before the age of 18. Countries like Bangladesh and India have child marriage rates over 50%. As India is one of the most populated countries in the world, it is not difficult to connect India’s skyrocketing population to the number of child marriages. Due to South Asia’s recent industrialization, South Asia "has the second-highest number of maternal deaths worldwide". The health service is still in a state of disarray due to the divide between South Asian regions and classes. Many girls, therefore, become pregnant at a young age, but are incapable of raising children as they are children themselves. However, many young women in South Asia cannot access these safe abortions that they desperately need and when they do, the environment is far from sterile. Additionally, women who live in regions of poverty are not allowed to choose to have an abortion—if one is available to them, the male would make the ultimate decision. The real issue here is not the legality of abortions in South Asia, but the lack of quality and the stigma surrounding abortions. In too many South Asian countries, abortions are seen as taboo —a procedure that “must be kept a secret." How are women expected to live happily when they are not given the right to voice their opinions on matters that concern their own wellbeing and body? South Asian women are forced to endure this constant cycle of repression. For the voices of these women to be heard, they must first have the right to speak. Organizations like Unicef give South Asian women the education that they need to be self aware. Unicef has provided these women with paid school tuitions and other assets to fortify them for the future. While high levels of oppression continue to exist in South Asian countries today, feminists are actively fighting against it. Women worldwide are finally standing up to tell their stories and fight for their natural rights to, ultimately, have complete control over their bodies. - Prerna Kulkarni

a spoken word poem. watch the full performance here. “Justice For All,” they say. It’s written in ink, etched into the land where we stand. It’s the concrete floors of our nation. It’s the roots that inhabit our soil. It’s why people beg and plead and dream to come to this country. But little do they know, the roots of this nation have rotted. And they still spoon-feed us the pledge, forcing empty phrases down our throats but when we can’t stomach it, digest it, process it, believe it, it gets stuck in our throats. It gets stuck in my throat. Like zombies, we rise up from the dead each morning. Like robots, we’re programmed to say the pledge. But these orders are no more than a false sense of purpose, no more than an illusion of unity. They tell me the story of intertwined hands but I only see fists that kill. America: land of the free, home of the brave. So free, we see innocent Ahmuad and Breonna shot dead. So brave, the words spiced with hate still roll off of their tongue. Because when George Floyd said “I can’t breathe”, the Asian cop turned a blind eye and looked away from “one nation under god”, looked away from “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”. The Asian cop looked away, even though he knows what it’s like, should know what it’s like to have cried and died and tried for better lives, to have carried metal bars on our backs when they demanded train tracks, to have shoveled and dug when they craved for more gold. But he still stood on the side of the oppressor. And so the reporters broadcast the hate that poisons our nation and announce what our country has vowed to renounce. They give us a sugar-coated, “We’re sorry”, “This won’t happen again” but we know it’s going to happen again because hey, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Right? We’ve been lied to by this country’s empty promises and right now, “corruption” and “justice” seem synonymous. Will I have to tell my children how they’ve cast us away? Repeating “Justice for All”, or so they say. - Julianne Tenorio

Dear Asian Youth, Birth control. We’ve all heard of it. A tiny, white pill so strong that it can prevent a child from entering this world. But that’s not its only benefit. As a girl, I’ve suffered my fair share of hormonal acne, excruciating cramps, and sudden mood swings during that time of the month (not to mention the many cute pants I’ve ruined!). Not only can birth control help regulate these symptoms, it also has the ability to prevent ovarian cysts, uterine cancer, infections in the uterus, and a number of other health issues. As of today, about 46.9 million women are covered by insurance for contraception. That’s 46.9 million women who rely on free birth control and 46.9 million women who each save around $600 a year. But what happens when you no longer have easy access to birth control? Under President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, employers are required to provide a healthcare plan that completely covers birth control for all female employees. But what about employers who have religious objections? Well, the Obama administration provides a rule that works around this hurdle: organizations with religious objections to birth control can directly notify the government or the insurance company of their objections. In turn, the insurance company will provide individuals with contraception separate from the employer’s healthcare plan, removing the employer from the equation entirely. Now, it’s no secret that President Trump’s administration has been fighting against coverage for contraception and access to reproductive healthcare. In 2017, new regulations were proposed to allow any employer to deny access to no-cost contraception on the basis of religious or moral objections. These regulations are so convoluted that it’s hard to tell what excuses are legitimately covered under “moral objections.” Essentially, even non-religious employers will be granted the right to control a woman’s reproductive decisions. Does the Trump administration even have the power to enact such a broad exemption? States like Pennsylvania and New Jersey don’t seem to think so. They’ve halted the new regulation from going into effect by claiming that the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) does not have the authority to violate the Affordable Care Act’s current rules. Filed in 2018, the case has reached the Supreme Court, but the conflicted justices have yet to reach an official ruling. However, with the Supreme Court being a Republican-majority, it wouldn’t be surprising if they vote in favor of the Trump administration’s exceptions—especially if this case drags on beyond November and Trump is re-elected into office. But, why is it that female forms of contraception are continually under attack when they have the greatest success rates? I don’t see anybody protesting male condoms. Do you? Condoms are proven to only be 85% effective compared to birth control pills and IUDs, which are both 99% effective when used correctly. The irony here is that men have a history of making decisions for women that tend to end in further oppression, especially when it comes to their bodies. Imagine if the roles were reversed and women tried to take condoms away from men. Now, I may not use birth control myself, but I have witnessed its importance, as many of my friends utilize birth control to treat their health related issues. In the U.S., 58% of women use the pill for reasons other than contraception, such as relieving menstrual disorders and pains, treating acne, and treating endometriosis. This is precisely why birth control is a health care right and not only a means to preventing pregnancies. Birth control costs up to $50 each month and not all women are able to afford the cost, especially women from lower-income brackets. Unplanned pregnancies affect lower-income women the most, as abortions cause a bigger dent in their wallet and raising childen is a huge monetary strain. These women will be unable to break free from the never ending cycle of poverty if they are not provided with effective forms of birth control. Additionally, women with unplanned pregnancies are far more likely to smoke, drink, experience domestic abuse, have depression, and receive little or no prenatal care; this can lead to developmental problems in the child. The government alone spends about $21 billion a year on unplanned pregnancies, and that’s with birth control coverage for most women. Now imagine what the cost would be if birth control was no longer free. This is not only an issue concerning the health care rights of women; if birth control access is denied, our economy will suffer. For decades, women have been fighting and advocating for widespread access to reproductive healthcare. Margaret Sanger, a feminist born in 1879, played a critical role in the production of birth control. She dedicated much of her life to providing women with effective contraception because she believed that controlling family size was crucial in ending women’s poverty. After years of protesting and starting her own organizations (one of which later became Planned Parenthood), the widespread use of contraception became legal in 1936, and the first birth control pill was finally approved by the FDA in 1960. To this day, Sanger’s legacy still reigns as millions continue to fight for greater birth control access. But now, the Trump administration is dishonoring her legacy by proposing new restrictions on contraception. If Trump’s new regulation for birth control goes into effect, it’s estimated that 70,000 to 126,000 women will lose their coverage for contraception—a classic case of the federal government’s never-ending ploy to control women and their bodies. Whether or not a woman chooses to take birth control is ultimately her choice. Unless you experience the daily struggles of being a woman, it’s really not your place to speak for those who do. After years of fighting for gender equality, women are finally getting a say over how they want to dictate their lives, and birth control plays an enormous role in that. As a teenage girl, I sincerely hope that my right to birth control will not be stripped away by the government, so that the generation of young girls after me will not have to write articles fighting for their healthcare. - Sunna Mai

TW: Police Brutality Dear Asian Youth, #BlackLivesMatter. I cannot speak on behalf of the Black community nor do I intend to. Rather, I hope to raise awareness and use this platform to do so. The attention belongs solely to Black people, and we need to listen to what they have to say. As an Asian American, I will not speak for the Black community or dictate how they should feel. I do not want to overstep by any means but hope to educate fellow Asians and to provide perspective. Marginalized groups should stick together and support each other in the fight against oppression, as we are stronger together. For instance, following the coronavirus, the Black community called out the xenophobia and racism towards Asians. The privilege we have and the anti-Blackness that persists within our community must be recognized and addressed. Our privilege allows us to bring awareness to the racism in our society, and as the number of tragedies continues to surface, we cannot enable ourselves to become desensitized. #AllLivesMatter is not something we should be supporting. It is only used to invalidate the #BlackLivesMatter movement and was not born until after #BlackLivesMatter began. Notice how paradoxical it is that #AllLivesMatter is not used as an argument to justify gun control or counter-argue coronavirus protests. Yes, all lives do matter, but currently, Black lives are the ones at stake. As Asians, we cannot simply look away from the injustices Black people face, just because we aren't directly affected. This movement does not discredit our hardships, and we should not silence Black individuals; it is their turn to speak and we must listen. As you may have heard, George Floyd, a Black man, was murdered by white police officer Derek Chauvin. The video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds, despite Floyd yelling that he could not breathe, quickly surfaced online and gained rapid attention. In the video, the Asian police officer literally turned his back on Floyd, when he could have easily prevented the murder. As allies, we must take action and do better. It is not the Black community’s job to educate us. We are responsible for doing that ourselves. We cannot support cops because they serve and defend a racist institution, instead of the people they swore to protect. When protesters arrived at Chauvin’s house, dozens of cops surrounded his home to shelter him. The arrest was not made until controversy arose, petitions were signed, and his second address was found. The arrest was not made until his safety was compromised. Even then, he was only charged with third-degree murder, which is consistent with accidentally shoving someone to death. Almost nine minutes of intentionally choking a man should be deemed as first-degree murder. Not to mention, the other three officers involved in the murder of Floyd were not initially charged. While they did not physically murder Floyd themselves, they all bear responsibility as they were complicit in the murder. They watched as Chauvin pinned Floyd down. It was only after public outrage that Chauvin’s charge was raised to second-degree murder, and the remaining three cops were convicted of their crime. The system continues to fail Black people, just as it has failed them for the past four hundred years. For instance, institutionalized racism stems far deeper in our nation than most realize. American policing was founded upon anti-Blackness: it originated upon slave patrolling, which remains evident in the similarities between modern police and slave patrol badges. To be proper allies, we must work to actively reform the law enforcement system. Think back to the first time you drove a car. It’s known as a universal teenage experience. Except, Black teens have to be prepared on how to act if they are pulled over, the same way women are told how to act to avoid sexual harassment. For example, Mark Mesle, a parent who inquired Curious City about police brutality, found it necessary to have open conversations on such matters with his Black children. Television host and author Karamo Brown reveals that, in fear of being racially profiled, his son refused to get his license. Whenever I even see a police car on the road, I'm filled with anxiety. I cannot even begin to fathom the fear Black people feel when driving past a police car. On top of worrying that their parents will be angry at them for speeding, they also fear encounters with law enforcement that may end with death. While we worry about running a stop sign, Black men and women worry about not making it out alive and not being able to come home to their families. As Asians, we must recognize that the lack of police brutality we face is a privilege in and of itself. Although it is important to attack racism within our community, we should not treat it as performative activism. For example, Asian-American Ziad Ahmed was accepted into Stanford after writing #BlackLivesMatter one hundred times for his essay. While it may seem like he is spreading awareness on the surface, the act seems performative. Ahmed publicly endorsed a politician that drafted the 1994 Crime Law and prides himself in encouraging mass incarceration, which specifically targets Black communities.Thus, to be allies we cannot be hypocritical and support cases of anti-Blackness. We cannot be selective in our activism and choose to only bring awareness to issues that affect us. We should not use the movement as a ploy to seem progressive. As Asians, we have been deemed the “model minority” for decades. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 only allowed Asian immigrants who were skilled and well-educated to enter the country. Therefore, our people were pre-selected to be successful in American society. We were painted by the media to be good, law-abiding citizens and were expected to be an “example” for other minorities. Black people, on the other hand, lived through generations of genocide and were forced to perform back-breaking labor. Ultimately, this created a divide between Asians and Blacks. In addition, we benefit from white privilege because of the model minority myth. Yes, Asians have experienced an enormous amount of racism throughout American history, but it is drastically different than the oppression the Black community has faced and continues to face today. It's the same reason why non-Black POC cannot say the n-word. Black and POC are not synonymous. We simply do not experience the same discrimination. We are not racially profiled to be considered dangerous by society, as evident when comparing how police treat us versus our Black counterparts. When we protest Asian discrimination, we do not have to worry about being tear-gassed; we do not have to worry about being shot by the National Guard; we do not have to worry about hiding the protestors’ identities in fear of everyone “mysteriously dying” the same way the Ferguson protesters did. It is essential that we are aware of our privilege and Black experiences. So how can we be proper allies? If you witness an act of discrimination, intervene instead of just being a bystander filming the hate crime. Do not spread graphic videos of death, even if the intent is to spread awareness, because it can be triggering and insensitive. If you see racist remarks on social media, especially from authoritative figures, call out their actions. If they proceed to choose ignorance, contact their employers or schools. User @killthelove on Twitter articulated that for non-Black POC, our activism must “start at home. It starts with correcting our families and the people around us and calling them out on their bigotry, no matter how uncomfortable it may be or who you make mad in the process.” Confront your friends, family, and favorite celebrities who choose to remain silent. Check up on your Black friends and ask how you can help. Allow Black people to speak on their experiences and boost their platform. Do not post selfies or beach pictures on Instagram during these times. Spread the word. Protest. Sign petitions. Donate to non-profit organizations helping the movement and families affected. Deliver protective gear and spray bottles to protestors. Use your privilege to prevent violence against protestors. Vote, especially in local elections. Contact your mayors, local representatives, state senators. Be actively angry. We have to fix and address the anti-Blackness that plagues our community. Black lives matter every single day, not just when it is trending. We cannot pretend we fully understand their struggle because the reality is, we will never understand even a fraction of their pain. We can only do our best to help fight for justice and let their voices be heard. As Angela Davis, a writer and activist, said, “In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” Repeat after me: Black Lives Matter. - Tia and Sunna Resources to Donate to: https://twitter.com/bailfundnetwork/status/1266408876838014983?s=12 https://www.northstarhealthcollective.org/donate https://secure.everyaction.com/4omQDAR0oUiUagTu0EG-Ig2 https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2 https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-family-in-loving-memory-of-eric-hakizamana Petitions to Sign: Text “FLOYD” to 55156 and “JUSTICE” to 668366 https://twitter.com/solaceil/status/1268034886385799168?s=21 https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/justice-george-floyd-0 https://www.justiceforbigfloyd.com/#petition https://www.standwithbre.com/#petition https://www.change.org/p/black-lives-matter-activists-justice-for-tony-mcdade https://www.change.org/p/prefeitura-do-rio-de-janeiro-justice-for-jo%C4%81o-pedro https://www.change.org/p/julius-jones-is-innocent-don-t-let-him-be-executed-by-the-state-of-oklahoma People to Contact: Minneapolis District Attorney, Mike Freeman, demand justice for George Floyd Phone: 612-348-5550 Email: citizeninfo@hennepin.us Jacob Frey, demand justice for George Floyd Phone: 612-673-2100 Text “RESIST” to 50409 https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1-yqKbkh9eF4eZn-Bolz-wXFlSn3BL8Xlukn5cMiIAcI/mobilebasic?usp=gmail_thread

“If you were a bit skinnier, you could do it.”, my classmate taunted. These words numbed me, told me that I would never be a good dancer. “If you were a bit skinnier, you could do it.” Heat flushed to my face in an instant as I felt shame and insecurity drape over me, smothering my pride. Skinny. I hated that word. I wanted to fit into its standards, but the word’s selectiveness was not generous enough to slip me in. Skinny became a number on the scale. A target goal that, if reached, made my self-worth skyrocket. If not, it made me sink into a lair of self-doubt. Two years ago, I was a freshman in high school who found solace in music, especially K-pop. I idolized the celebrities for more than just their mesmerizing voices and precise movements; I admired their slim frames —from their long, thin legs, to their 23-inch waists, I desperately wanted their physiques. And as I would learn, skinny did not come without a cost. When browsing through K-pop related content on Youtube, I eventually came across diet videos with captivating titles like, “I lost 7 pounds a week doing the IU diet!” and “I followed Kang Sora’s diet and lost 20kg!”. Numbers, numbers, and more numbers. As direct proof of results, numbers represented self-worth. Was my weight all I was worth? Did one number determine my future? My happiness? My obsession to become skinnier left me discouraged when my diet attempts met dead ends. Though I have not succumbed to such strict diets, I have made attempts by counting calories, or exercising excessively if I consumed “too much.” On top of the already strict beauty standards in Asia, the extreme methods K-Pop idols used to transform their bodies also perpetuate eating disorders and self-image issues. Young women feel pressured to pursue societal beauty standards through mirroring actions of their models and utilize unhealthy methods in so doing. In a study designed to identify the prevalence of eating disorders in South Korean students, seven percent were found to have disturbed eating patterns. Participants sampled were in fourth and seventh grade. Of 2,200 adolescents tested, patterns of eating disorders were found in 155, with significantly higher prevalence in fourth graders. Even at such young ages, children feel Korean culture’s emphasis on appearance, thus neglect sustenance to please parents, relatives, and society. In an interview with the Youtube channel Asian Boss, the 2018 Miss Korea, Kim Soo Min, recalls being called “too fat” for the crown and reveals Korean ideals for women (of any height) to weigh 45 to 50 kg. The pageant winner is 5’8 and weighs close to 59 kg, a healthy weight in proportion to her height. The criticism Kim received conveys is only one example of how Korean beauty standards are potentially harmful to young women. As for me, I refuse to sit and let someone judge me or my body. No matter how self conscious I am, I refuse to let someone else’s words hold me hostage and force change in me due to their dissections of my imperfections. I refuse to allow their words to cut me and determine my future. His blatant attack on my body battered my confidence and sank my stomach everytime I replayed them in my head. Even so, I acknowledged that I am better than those words. I define my own worth. I am proud of my body and I do not need to change it. Without hesitating, I blocked him. I blocked his hurtful, twisted words, and I blocked myself from further harm. I fought myself to prove him wrong but I refused to be broken. I refused to prove a great transformation just to concede to his words. Two years have passed since that incident and though I remain insecure about my body at times, I gradually reclaimed my broken pieces by learning to love myself first. Rather than caving into social pressures of meeting beauty standards through extreme methods, I find fulfillment in exercising for the objective of improving my overall mood and energy. My goal is not to lose weight or achieve a certain body type through doing so, but instead to have more energy to complete tasks to the best of my ability and enjoy foods I love without feeling guilty. Cultural beauty standards may serve as a way for us to justify our self-criticism and further the toxic cycle of comparing ourselves to others. Even with these ideals gone, we will continuously seek imperfections within ourselves due to our nature of criticizing and judging. Needless to say, there is no perfect body type since standards are always fluctuating due to each individual’s preference. Leonardo Da Vinci's painting, “The Vitruvian Man,” serves as a representation of what a perfectly proportioned person would look like. “Perfect” means that this perception would hold true to a universal audience. Yet, what may be held as vitruvian to one may be an image another feels repelled by. Though we do not hold power over perspectives of others, as long as we accept ourselves as “vitruvians,” whether immediately or through a natural process of change, we will find satisfaction and worth in ourselves by loving, accepting, and cherishing our own bodies. - Josie

Dear Asian Youth, Black lives matter. There is no rebuttal. There is no "if" or "but" or "how come?". And today, we must listen to and support protestors like we did for Hong Kong, despite how uncomfortable and difficult it may be. I know how hard it is to admit to the anti-Blackness in our community, but it is undeniable that we have a history of participating in racist ideology against other minority groups. And even when we didn't "directly" participate, we kept our heads down and stayed complicit; we, too, carry the burden of the countless lives lost. Now, it is up to us to decide what side of history we want to stand on. For me, I'm going to choose the side of justice. I'm going to be just as angry and outspoken as I was when fellow Asians were being attacked for COVID-19. I can only urge you to do the same. 黑人的命也是命. - Stephanie Mahal lahat, Kung naisip lamang natin na ang mundo ay hindi mapupuno ng kaguluhan, ang hindi makatarungang pagkamatay ni George Floyd ay naging viral sa buong mundo. Gayunpaman, ito ay bahagi ng kung ano ang nagsimula kung ano ngayon ang pinakamalaking pinakamalaking kilusang sibil sa kasaysayan. Medyo cool, ha? Ang kilusang #BlackLivesMatter ay nasa buong media sa lipunan, na may milyon-milyong mga tao na kumakalat ng salita tungkol sa kung paano kailangan nating kumilos nang mabilis upang mabago ang kurso ng ating bansa. Ako, si Julianne, ay ipinagmamalaki na sabihin na ako ay isang tagataguyod at tagataguyod ng BLM at tatayo sila nang walang pasubali. Ngunit, nais kong tugunan ang kahalagahan ng pakikilahok ng ating henerasyon sa ito. Nakakainis talaga na makita ang ilan sa aking mga kaibigan na nagsasabing hindi kahit isang solong salita tungkol sa kung ano ang nangyayari, at nais ko lang na bigyang-diin na kung nais natin ang pagbabago, LAHAT nating tiyakin na ginagawa natin ang makakaya nating maganap. At kahit na nahahati ang ating mundo, mahalagang tandaan na kahit sino ka, dapat tayong tumayo na magkakaisa laban sa mga kawalang-katarungan na salot sa ating Daigdig. - Julianne Monsieur, Je suis québécoise. Mon cœur pleur noir. Je cœur pleur autochtone, pleure nature. Mon cœur pleur. Tout simplement. Qui que nous soyons, d'où que nous venions, nous ne formions qu'un tendant vers un unique but. La justice doit s'appliquer à tous et pour tous. C'est un fait. Et nous ne la mendions pas, nous l'exigeons. Ce n'est pas un cadeau. C'est un droit absolu. Pour susciter du changement, sensibiliser. Prenons le temps de s'écouter et d'apprendre à mieux se connaître. Il nous faut rester forts, nombreux et unis. Je ne suis pas noir, mais je suis avec toi. #jemesouviens - Emily 한국인 여러분, 한국인, 저는 오늘 모든 한국인들에게 "Black Lives Matter"운동을지지 해달라고 요청하고 있습니다. 미국은 수 세기 동안 우리 시스템에서 제기 된 문제들과 싸우고 있으며, 우리의 메시지는 자국을 포함한 모든 국가의지지를 받아야한다고 생각합니다. 한국인들은 흑인들이 매일 직면하는 끔찍한 불의와 싸워야합니다. 한국인은 인종 차별과 불필요한 죽음과 싸워야합니다. 한국인들은이 운동을 유발하기 위해 고통스러운 죽음으로 죽은 사람들을 기억해야합니다. 한국인은 사랑하는 사람을 다시는 보지 못하는 희생자의 가족과 친구들을 기억해야합니다. 한국인들은 선택적 행동주의의 벽을 산산조각 내고 인종 차별주의에 직면해야한다. - 백시연 सर्वांना प्रिय, अमेरिकेतल्या ब्लॅक लाईव्हस मॅटर चळवळीबद्दल आपण विचार करणे खूप महत्वाचे आहे. जॉर्ज फ्लॉयड नावाचा एक माणूस आहे आणि तो मेला आहे. का? कारण, मिनेसोटा मधील पोलिस वर्णद्वेषी आहेत. उत्तर इतके सोपे नसले तरीही ते अद्याप खूपच समस्याप्रधान आहे आणि आम्हाला कार्य करावे लागेल. आम्हाला हे ओळखले पाहिजे की काळा लोक पांढ white्या लोकांपेक्षा आणि रंगाच्या बाबतीत इतर लोकांपेक्षा भिन्न अनुभव आहेत. मी भारतीय-अमेरिकन आहे, म्हणून मी एक रंगीबेरंगी व्यक्ती आहे. मला समजले आहे की माझा एक विशेषाधिकार आहे जो काळा लोकांना असू शकत नाही आणि ही एक समस्या आहे. काळ्या लोकांना कधीही इतर रंगीत लोकांपेक्षा कमी दिसू नये. परिस्थितीविषयी जागरूकता निर्माण करण्यासाठी आणि अंतिमत: या निराकरणासाठी, सर्व काळ्या लोकांना काळ्या लोकांसाठी आणि त्यांच्याबरोबर काम करावे लागेल. आता बदलण्याची वेळ आली आहे. आपल्याला स्पष्ट डोक्याने पहावे लागेल आणि मग आपण जाऊ शकू. - इशिता 親愛的朋友, 传播爱，而不是暴力. - 周承愛