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HEN HE ATA INT RETTY
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a bulletin board for the thoughts and information in my brain
one topic at a time
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"Those who never change their minds never change anything."
Winston Churchill
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365 events and women in history
A few years ago, my sister gave me a 365 day calendar, highlighting one event or woman in history that relates to that particular day. I started working on collecting important moments and individuals that helped shape human history. One thing I noticed is that the calendar did not have many intersectional female figures. I am hoping to fill this little project with women of varying ages and backgrounds.
![On January 10, 1940, the first UN General Assembly session convened in London, and one of the documents it reviewed was a draft of the Declaration on Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms, what would later be known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was a document advocated for by world leaders in the aftermath of World War II to ensure the rights of individuals everywhere. During the assembly, the draft was transferred to the Commission on Human Rights, headed by Eleanor Roosevelt. Roosevelt worked with eighteen other individuals of differing political, cultural, and religious backgrounds to create the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Rene Cassin of France composed the first draft, while Charles Malik of Lebanon, Peng Chung Chang of China, and John Humphrey of Canada all prepared the structure and blueprints of the document. It is Roosevelt, however, who is recognized as the main motivator for the Declaration's adoption in 1948. The document asserted "the dignity and worth of the human person and [the] equal rights of men and women," and was one of the launching points for the discussion of women's rights in the UN in the future.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c5e917_7f6bb4652cef4207b1a0b4b3d0e1f588~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_825,h_620,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/c5e917_7f6bb4652cef4207b1a0b4b3d0e1f588~mv2.png)
![On January 3, 1987, singer Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Hall inducted its very first members -- all men -- just one year prior, in 1986, and critics quickly commented on the lack of female representation. Although many were pleased with the Hall's choice to include a woman in its second class, gender [in]equality has continued to plague the organization. In over three decades, only around three dozen female performers or bands -- just over 10 percent of all honorees -- have been inducted into the Hall, with no behind-the-scenes individuals, such as managers or producers. Aside from her groundbreaking induction, Franklin -- also known as the Queen of Soul -- had an astonishing career spanning over five decades. She was nominated for forty-four Grammy awards, including eighteen wins. A self-taught pianist, she also performed at the inauguration of three U.S. presidents. Franklin passed away on August 16, 2018, at the age of seventy-six.
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R - E - S - P - E - C - T !!!!! Go, Aretha Franklin!
Not only is she the first woman to be inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but she is also a woman of color!!! This is not only a win for women artists but a huge win for black musicians. The beauty and burden of intersectional identities is this: the ability to represent multiple, underrepresented demographics.
And, guess what. She was just 25 years old when she got inducted into the Hall. So, that's a win for yet another demographic: young musicians.
Franklin's most famous and renowned song, "Respect", is often referred to as the anthem for female empowerment, but it also became an empowering song for the black American community. Like with what I wrote about Oprah Winfrey, I can't imagine how incredible it would be to have witnessed the revolutionary rise and acknowledgment of a young, female, black singer, who came to be known as the "Queen of Soul." I get shivers down my back thinking about it. And to think that someone of that intersectional identity could be a role model for not only her direct community but also for anyone who is familiar with being treated with anything less than respect in their lives.
R E S P E C T
Find out what it means to me!
I love this line where she empowers herself with a very clear dictation of what she deserves, and prompts the recipient to do some work. It's not really difficult work. Everyone deserves respect and shouldn't have to ask for it, but I guess this isn't really evident to some folks. And, sadly, many men didn't (and don't) get it.
Sheesh, I don't know. It's not calculus or anything. It's really so simple. One of the first things we learn as kids: treat others the way you want to be treated!
Lately, my younger sister and I have been extremely vigilant and analytical about the lyrics we are inundated with in popular culture. So many tunes are sung, without thought, and praised as brilliant even though, many times, the lyrics are degrading to women in one way or another. I am listening to Aretha Franklin's top tracks (shared on left) on Spotify while writing this, and the theme of individualism, freedom, and equality course through most of them, and am realizing that we have a drought of artists who freely express female empowerment as refreshingly as she does. And, it's not just in the context of love.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c5e917_dee32bc801c44d3b90494d89fd269281~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_315,h_315,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/c5e917_dee32bc801c44d3b90494d89fd269281~mv2.jpg)
feminism = race against history
Although "feminism" is not a modern concept, it is still one that many individuals, societies, and systems have yet to catch up with. I am very interested in understanding where we, as people, truly stand in the progress toward a truly equal world in which our sex does not limit our perceptions of one another.
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Beneath the "Asian" Umbrella
When the world fell into chaos during the beginning years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise in crimes against "Asian" people also gave rise to a movement called "Stop Asian Hate." This time period of turmoil gave birth to echo chambers on social media with people using online platforms to voice all of their opinions regarding "Asian". These conversations branched into generalizations and subtopics that spanned from interracial to "intraracial".
Amongst the many dialogues that have emerged, I noticed that our language is still limited by a lack of academic study. The most obvious barrier is the use of the term "Asian" to group this "racial community." It is an umbrella term that can create harmful generalizations and little room for people within this-vaguely-patched-up-category-of-a-community to see themselves reflected within these conversations in a nuanced way.
Therefore, I aim to first uncover the history of the Asian diaspora. Here, Asian refers to being of or related to a country within the continent of Asia. In doing so, I hope to unwrap a clear timeline of the various ethnic and cultural groups, in their movement across the globe. More specifically, I am hoping it will clarify the overused term "Asian American", and possibly even give birth to a new term that is more appropriate for all of the people who currently identify as so.
I believe that this clarification may also open the door to new ways of talking about interracial and intraracial issues within the United States and internationally.
Mapping Asia
The first step in understanding the term Asian is to get literal and understand the expansive and detailed history of Asia. Here, I am slowly collecting information on each of the forty eight countries recognized by the United Nations.
"Asian American"
In conjunction with this historical recap, I would like to begin a conversation about the term "Asian American", reflecting on what is currently begin said and how I think the dialogue may benefit from a different direction.
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Healthcare, Humanity, the World
Taking a look at some of the world's human rights violations such as human trafficking or maltreatment of the elderly, I wanted to tie them back to the question of public health. As an aspiring physician, I seek to combine my knowledge of people in the realms of social sciences and humanities with my ongoing and growing knowledge of the life sciences to figure out if we can tackle these large issues.
Resources
I believe that this conversation begins with the sharing of resources and information. This is a collection of the articles that helped inform some of my views on public health. (scroll to view)
Terms and Definitions
These terms and definitions have helped me navigate conversations regarding public health and human rights much more smoothly. (scroll to view)
Quick Facts and Figures
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We are what we eat!
When we talk about being intentional consumers, this doesn't apply simply to material goods. What we read, watch, and hear affects our minds and our souls just as much as what we eat, buy, and do.
As a film lover and a graduate of English studies in college, I absolutely love analyzing the pieces that the world consumes as viewers and readers. When I review a piece of work, I look at artistry, technique, and message. It is important to distinguish these points because a beautiful film could have an ugly message. An amateur book could hold treasure troves of truth.
Timeless "Musts"
I have compiled a few of my favorite films, television shows, and books. These pieces have given me something that no other work of its time has offered me. I share them with the hopes that they can give you a little something too.
Worth a Discussion
There are some works of art that have me a little bit confused. The following are films, television shows, and books that made me think. For the most part, the pieces in this section are the basis for discussing larger topics, and there is a general sense of appreciation for what it accomplishes but also reservation about the details that make the pieces fallible to delivering unintended messages to the audience. The discussions aim to question the creators' choices, and analyze the impacts of these decisions.
Favorites to Re-evaluate
There are many classics and recent pieces that have been praised by the masses. I tried to watch and read these with a socially critical eye. thinking about what these so-called master pieces have added to society.
Binge Worthy
Alas, I admit that I do enjoy my binge shows. Being that I have an analytical eye when it comes to popular entertainment, I have found it hard to find movies and shows that I can turn on and turn my mind off, watching. The following collection of movies and shows represents pieces that either didn't rub me the wrong way, or is so fantastical that I am able to disassociate the writing from its social impacts on the real world.
"not only to make a Cyrus, which had been but a particular excellency, as nature might have done, but to bestow a Cyrus upon the world to make many Cyruses, if they will learn aright why and how that maker made him"
Philip Sidney, Defense of Poesy
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