What It's Like To Be Asian In Australia

[icyfroth]

Author Michele Lee lifts the lid on life as a young Asian woman growing up in Australia

MICHELE Lee is your typical Australian woman in her early thirties.

Educated, travelled and with a fabulous career, the author and playwright epitomises what most Aussie girls want.

She's also Asian, sassy, tough and independent.

Lee, who grew up in Canberra and now lives in Melbourne, has lifted the lid on what it's really like growing up as an Asian girl in modern Australia - and she isn't afraid to hold back.

"I began writing this as part of a course and ended up exploring what it means to be Asian," she said.

As the parents of immigrants who fled a war-torn country, Lee admits there were certain expectations placed on her to do well, but that it didn't involve hours of study or language classes.

"The book is my story about coming of age and also finding myself," she said.

Lee says while her book does focus on typical gen Y yearnings, she discovered a lot about herself and Australian life in general, including:

Racism does exist:

Lee admits it is an issue, but while her sister was teased at school the worst comment she got was being called the n-word.

"I didn't find racism that overt, except for the few odd occasions" she said.

"I know kids would play chopsticks on the piano to my sister, but I wasn't really exposed to that sort of behaviour.

"But you know hateful comments like that comment (n-word) do stick in my mind."

Lee said Australian society was contradictory because on one hand there was a celebration of different cultures but on the other, the Cronulla riots and refugee debate spoke volumes about certain Australian demographics.

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[*elizabeths-mum*]

Now I'm wondering what the n word is. The only ones I can think of either apply to someone with much darker coloring or someone who has been a bit of an idiot.

[icyfroth]

I was wondering about that too, e-m.

I've never heard of an asian person called and n word that rhymes with snigger.

Plenty of other derogatory names, but not that.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

Wikipedia has an alphabetical list of ethnic slurs, but the only n one I could find which applies to an Asian is specifically Japanese and is an abbreviation of Nippon. The book title contains a slur which I wasn't familiar with either.

In regards to the article, racial prejudice remains with us across all nationalities but I think (hope) as we become more multicultural it is lessening.

[***super_nova***]

Many years ago when I lived in Sydney, I used to meet in the city with a friend, and we used to do some shopping and then usually end up in the "Chinatown" for dinner.  One day in the winter, and forgetting that it is Monday, and that means Asian restaurants are closed we went down to the "Chinatown".  As soon as we turned the corner we realised our mistake but decided to walk on, just in the case something is open.  But it was dark, and while there were shopkeepers still around they all stared at us, or should I say glared at us in quite hostile way.  Normally, people there were so friendly and lovely to our very white and blond children, but this day we were definitely not welcome.  While nobody was openly aggressive towards us we felt so uncomfortable we rushed away from there as fast as little 5 and 7 years old would walk.
I always wonder what would it be like for Asian or African person who get stared at like that every day of the year, and every now and then get abused.  I had a Chinese friend whose ancestors came here during the gold rush, and people still yelled her to go back home. 

[*elizabeths-mum*]

We had similar experiences living in Harris Park 20 years ago (the children and I were also very blonde and fair skinned)

One thing I remember was a doctor wanting to stroke my daughters arm because she was so white which I was really uncomfortable about. Years later when I was caring for an unconscious Sudanese man, I had to resist the same temptation, his skin was so velvety looking. People might have different colored skins but our instincts are the same.

[mugssy65]

When I read about the N word I thought she must be Indian or Burmese but that doesn't explain playing chopsticks? All I can think now is "stupid kids" lol

[margomeoz]

My son is married to an Asian girl, we have had a lot of conversations about this, she has never had a lot of trouble, but the cultural differences as a child made her feel very left out, being a Buddist they don't celebrate Christmas, Birthdays, and many other things we have here.

Now with 2 small children they celebrate all these things, maybe because she is married to my son, but her old parents join in too.

I am eternally grateful that he found her and they married because she is also very smart and they are paying off 3 units,

without her he would have nothing.

I do think the young people today are making the racist problem better.

[kyliecrv]

I do think the young people today are making the racist problem better - (Margo)

I agree, I see my teens have so many friends across the cultures and they dont see any issues. They are just people with common interests etc

 
I also notice that they are MUCH more tolerant/ accepting (not sure of the 'best' word).. of gay people as they mix with their group of friends irrelevant of their sexuality also.

Without being a butt-in mum, I do take time to listen/ observe/ talk to them and really like what I see!!

Hopefully when my tiny one (only 22 months now) is a teen, growing up, it (human acceptance) will continue further with her generation!