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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 15, 1850, Sofia Kovalevskaya was born in Moscow, Russia. Her mathematics work earned her a doctorate summa cum laude from the University of Gottingen in 1874. The Swedish Academy of Sciences appointed Kovalevskaya to a chair in 1889, making her the first woman to do so at a modern European university and setting the precedent for generations to come.

On January 14, 1970, legendary American singer Diana Ross performed for the last time with the Supremes at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Supremes had achieved a stunning five number-one hit singles within ten months from 1964 to 1965; some of their most famous hits include "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "Baby Love." Motown Records announced in late 1969 that Ross would be leaving the group to pursue a solo career. Tensions in the group had already been high among the three women as Ross had been labeled the lead singer and given more of the spotlight by managers and the label before the official split. On the night of this last performance, fellow Motown artists Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson attended. Before the end of the performance, Ross spoke to the audience, saying, "I'd like to thank the Frontier Hotel and of course all of our fans and everyone that's been with us over the last ten yeas," right before introducing fans to her replacement in the group--Jean Terrell. Just days later Ross began recording material for her first official solo track, "Reach Out and Touch," and she went on to a very successful solo career.

On January 13, 1887, entertainer Sophie Tucker was born to a Jewish family in what is now Ukraine. After the family immigrated to the United States, Tucker worked in her family's Connecticut restaurant and discovered that her singing brought in tips. She and her sister started playing amateur shows, and Tucker was a hit, playing up her heavy weight as part of her routine. Tucker left her first husband, entrusted her son Albert with her parents, and moved to New York City to pursue her singing career. She started performing in cafes and beer gardens before she worked her way in to the vaudeville scene. She was forced to perform in blackface due to her weight and looks. In 1908, Tucker dropped this act, revealing her Jewish identity. "Some of These Days" became her signature song. She toured the United States and Europe during the 1920s and 1930s--in Europe, Adolf Hitler banned her hit song "My Yiddishe Momme." Tucker never slowed down. When she died in 1966, she had two years of performances planned.

On January 12, 1932, Hattie Wyatt Caraway became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate. Born in Tennessee, Hattie Wyatt attended Dickson Normal School, where she met her future husband, Thaddeus Horatius Caraway. Hattie graduated in 1896, married Thaddeus in 1902, and the Caraways moved to a farm in Arkansas. Thaddeus practiced law and was elected to Congress in 1912. Hattie cared for their children, and when women won the vote in 1920, Hattie exercised her right but remained dedicated to homemaking, not politics. Thaddeus was reelected in 1926 but died suddenly in 1931. Arkansas Governor Harvey Parnell appointed Hattie to her husband's Senate seat. She was reelected and cosponsored the Equal Rights Amendment during her second term.

On January 11, 1928, Grace Fryer, Edna Hussman, Katherine Schaub, Quinta McDonald, and Albina Larice took the witness stand in their lawsuit against U.S. Radium. They asked for $250,000 as recompense for medical expenses and pain they they suffered while working with radium to produce radium dials at the factory. Female workers were often encouraged to lick the brushes to keep the radium paint from drying and prolong the brushes' use, exposing them to dangerous levels of radiation. Of about seventy women who worked at a factory in Essex County, New Jersey, fifty of them died from radium poisoning. Many women suffered horrible side effects, like Fryer, who lost all her teeth and had difficulty sitting up without a back brace. On the day of the trial against U.S. Radium, none of the five radium girls could raise their arms to take their oaths. When the second hearing took place in April, the women were not physically or mentally capable of attending. In June, U.S. Radium and the radium girls reached a settlement agreement: all five women would receive $10,000 and $600 per year annuity while they lived.

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.

On January 9, 1941, Joan Baez was born. Baez kicked off her musical career while attending Boston University. She began singing in small clubs and coffeehouses in Boston, Cambridge, and Greenwich Village. Baez used her musical talent for furthering causes she believed in, making free concert appearances for civil rights organizations and anti-Vietnam War rallies. Baez held true to her timeless words: "Action is the antidote to despair."

On January 7, 1955, Marian Anderson became the first African American singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. Anderson, a contralto with a range of musical styles from classical to gospel, performed with major orchestras and at concerts across Europe and the United States between 1925 and 1965. From economic hardship to blatant racism, Anderson faced adversity throughout her career, but her perseverance led to impressive successes. In 1939, a crowd of over seventy-five thousand gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, to hear her sing at a performance that made civil rights history. Her concert at the memorial was arranged with the help of Eleanor Roosevelt after the Daughters of the American Revolution refused permission for her to sing in Constitution Hall, which would not relax is segregation policies to allow her onstage.

On January 6, 1907, Maria Montessori opened the Casa del Bambini in a slum district of Rome. Montessori had become Italy's first female doctor in 1897 and cared for the medical needs of children, but it was their minds that would capture her lifelong attention. After opening her first school, Montessori fostered a nurturing environment in which fifty disadvantaged children could teach themselves through creative activity and exploration. Impressed with her progress, Montessori's peers wanted to learn her innovative methods. She founded the Association Montessori Internationale in 1929 so that he philosophy could reach more children. More than a century after she launched her first school, thousands of Montessori schools on six continents -- including four thousand in the United States -- help shape and educate children worldwide.

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Wow, wow! This was especially fun for me because I went to a Montessori school for pre-school to 1st grade! It was my parents' dream to send their kids to a private school where we could get ahead of the curve, not only in terms of academics, but probably more so in terms of our creativity and life skills. I know, I know, what life skills does a pre-k kid need? But I remember, there were activities all over the classroom that really stimulated our brains and our creativity, from shoe lace tying to table manners.

On January 5, 1976, Time magazine debuted its choice for 1975's Person of the Year award as American women as a collective group. The magazine noted that in the few years preceding the award, "enough U.S. women have so deliberately taken possession of their lives that the event is spiritually equivalent to the discovery of a new continent." The issue profiled a dozen women in several fields to represent the magnitude of growth and confidence that arose from the women's movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The cover of the special edition included a collage of impactful women, including Billie Jean King and Betty Ford. Journalists in the issue noted that American women as a collective force pushed the cultural boundaries around them to open up new dialogue and opportunities, including making space for themselves in new industries where few had explored before. Although only a dozen women were featured in the issue, writers were sure to explain that everyday American women who pushed their own boundaries daily in the workforce, as well as defined new cultural ideals, were the women being celebrated in the issue.

On January 4, 1937, Wallis Simpson was named Time's first Women of the Year, appearing on the cover of the magazine. According to Time, Simpson was chosen as the first Woman of the Year because she was the most talked about and written about woman in the press around the world, her name made compelling headlines that fascinated people across the globe. Simpson was primarily known for her relationship and marriage to Britain's King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne for love, but her glamorous style is what propelled her to become an influence in fashion and social circles. She was a fixture at fashion shows by Schiaparelli and was a loyal customer of Christian Dior. Simpson's style in fashion continues to inspire designers, and she remains one of the most influential examples of how fashion can be used to express an individual's viewpoints to the world.

On January 1, 2011, Oprah Winfrey launched OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Raised with modest means by her grandmother in Kosciusko, Mississippi, Winfrey went on to defy the odds and become a business trail-blazer, media mogul, and inspiration for women of all races and all walks of life. In addition to twenty-five seasons as the top talk show host and America's best friend, she was also responsible for launching the successful television careers of Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, Nate Berkus, and Iyanla Vanzant.

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It's very amazing to start off this 365 day women's history writing challenge with a fact about Oprah. I didn't grow up watching too much TV, but I remember when everyone knew Oprah's name. She was (and still is) such an iconic figure in television and within American culture. Now, as an adult, looking back on her fame through my teenage years, I am so happy for my black friends and peers...that they got to grow up with such a popular, smart, beautiful, and bright black woman in media to represent them. The importance of representation is that she paved the way for so many other black women to imagine a life in which they, too, could be on television.

For me, it isn't until recently that I saw a famous Korean (let alone asian) woman on national television. Well, actually, Sandra Oh, the celebrity I am thinking of probably doesn't have a name that resonates with everyone as much as Oprah's does. I wonder what it would have been like if I had grown up with a Korean, female icon, hosting her own television series. I'm sure it would have had a huge impact in my self worth and sense of belonging. Even though I am an American born, Jersey raised girl, I still felt a divide between myself and my non asian peers. I grew up feeling un-American.

Which seriously sucks. Other than the stories I heard from my parents about Korean history, I had no ties to Korea. I never even stepped foot in Korea until I was a junior in high school. Meanwhile, I was born and raised in America, where American didn't look like me. Essentially, this left me feeling like I had zero sense of belonging. Thank goodness, my dad has siblings who all lived very close to one another, which gave my sisters and I a small community that we could call home. We had to create our own culture, identity, and traditions, blending what we appreciate and cherish about being Korean with what we have grown up seeing in America.

It's very difficult, yes, to grow up like this, and have the added challenge of creating your own sense of belonging, especially when your entire nation (whether they realize it or not) isolates you and considers you a foreigner. But, with these challenges, my sisters, aunts, parents, cousins, and myself are all some of the strongest, most colorful, and profound individuals I know. And, the lives we've shaped for ourselves, I hope, will exist as daily, mundane, and natural representations for other families who feel the same. Though I don't see my face as frequently as I'd like on television, I am so proud of what people like myself have done to establish themselves rightfully as Americans.

Cheers to resilience women and people who have historically been marginalized by a third party. We all deserve to live in peace, and dream of whatever life we want.

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.

STILL
CURATING

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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.

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

People's Republic of China

Hong Kong

Japan

Macau

Mongolia

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

People's Republic of China

Hong Kong

Japan

Macau

Mongolia

"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.

STILL
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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)

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Human Rights of Older Persons: a Public Health Concern

Mental Health & Human Rights

2021 Trafficking in Persons Report

Human Rights-Based Approach to Maternal Health: Why and How

Human Rights of Older Persons: a Public Health Concern

Mental Health & Human Rights

2021 Trafficking in Persons Report

Human Rights-Based Approach to Maternal Health: Why and How

Terms and Definitions

These terms and definitions have helped me navigate conversations regarding public health and human rights much more smoothly. (scroll to view)

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Debt Bonding

Forced Labor

Sex Tourism

Trafficking in Persons

Labor Trafficking

Modern Slavery

Sex Trafficking

Human Trafficking

Debt Bonding

Forced Labor

Sex Tourism

Trafficking in Persons

Labor Trafficking

Modern Slavery

Sex Trafficking

Human Trafficking

Quick Facts and Figures

Human Trafficking in a Global Pandemic
US Department of State

"During stay-at-home orders, workers who lived at their worksites became particularly vulnerable to sex trafficking and forced labor while being restricted in their ability to seek assistance or leave their situation of exploitation. With minimal oversight mechanisms, many of these worksites remained unmonitored, resulting in fewer opportunities for victim identification. "

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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.

An honest account of immigration issues in America as well as the racial issues that Asians face in this country, Blue Bayou is a must watch. The discussion isn't limited to Asian immigrants but to all who've been mistreated either at the border or in their homes, despite how long they've been here.

Released in 2021, the film, Snakehead, certainly did not see itself in enough theaters as it deserves. I'm grateful, however, that I watched the film at one of its pre-release screenings in NYC this summer. To my knowledge, the screening I attended was one of the few times this film appeared in a theater on the east coast. The lack of in-person viewings, however, isn't at all a testament to its award-worthy novelty. I watched the film and appreciate it greatly for all that it achieves. Director, Evan Jackson Leong, spent seven years creating this film, and, is a pioneer for making, what I believe is the first, truly AMERICAN Asian American movie.
Inspired by the real-life Cheng Chui Ping, Snakehead uncovers the desperate and lucrative underworld of human smuggling in Chinatown, New York.

This is, by far, one of my favorite books I've read, and, probably the reason I began to take interest in nonfiction literature. It is also what strongly convinced me that medicine is not just the sterile field we imagine it to be, but a beautiful world that invites and thrives off of artistic minds.
As Paul Kalanithi battles his own personal problems, he becomes more acutely aware of what terminal patients go through as they near death. He tries to revitalize beauty in death, and make sense of life when in pain.

After reading When Breath Becomes Air, I searched for another book to satiate my desire to uncover more about medicine and death. Being Mortal is the best book to accompany When Breath Becomes Air.
As a surgeon who grew up familiar with Indian culture, Atul Gawande begins a journey to understanding the culture surrounding old age and death in America. He grapples with what it means to live, and places a focus on the importance of complete agency through the end of one's life. He challenges utilitarian views on the older populations' usefulness in society, and prompts his readers to think about why deterioration of the body must imply the imprisonment of the mind.

The Surgeon's Cut

When I began watching Ginny & Georgia I did not know what I was getting myself into. This is a show I thoroughly enjoyed and am eager to watch more of. It discusses important topics such as race and teenage struggles. And, it gets an A+ for normalization of racial diversity in an American suburb. This is yet another feminist show that adds an unexpected twist of criminal activities. It sends the message that women will do what they need to do to live their best lives and don't need to be apologetic for their choices.

Yes, we should all be feminists. This essay was gifted to me by my friend in college. And, I learned so much about the intersectional experience of an African woman. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is honest, strong, and realistically optimistic about her approach toward feminism.

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.

Ever been gaslit? The really uncomfortable and scary thing about gaslighting is that, so often, the perpetrator is so swift at twisting the reality that whoever is on the receiving end sometimes doesn't even catch it. The feeling and experience of being gaslit is so inexplicable but this film accurately portrays what that is like.
I watched the film with my sisters, and we analyzed every minute of it. It was triggering, reminding us of the times when someone gaslit us, but it was also refreshing in that the actors and writing captured every nuance of manipulation. A part of the inexcusable nature of gaslighting is that it causes the victim to feel crazy. So, the realistic acknowledgment that gaslighting exists was important to us.
At first, we thought that this movie was a master-piece, but after reading about the directors' intention, we were extremely disappointed that the motivation wasn't to spread awareness about emotional abuse but rather to artistically explore suicide and mental illness.
Personally, I think this is so dangerous and wrong. with the intent being that the woman being emotionally abused being a figment of an old, suicidal man's imagination of a woman he met in passing is beyond unacceptable. It validates and normalizes these behaviors, which should never happen in real life and should not even be okay for one to think about. And then on the issue of mental illness and suicide, this piece did nothing for helping the audience understand these issues. It simply mystifies, makes light of, and romanticizes a man's loneliness.

My sister and I got into this show because 1) we love Sandra Oh and 2) she is an Asian female lead of a murder-mystery show!!! Or so we thought? I mean there is a lot of murder. There is a lot of mystery but this show is starting to take a twist we aren't sure how to handle. What started off as a very strong and feminist show has turned into a weird, puzzling experience. My sister and I can't quite put our finger on it yet. And, we're making our way through the episodes like it's homework now. We want to know the intention and angle behind this show.

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.

A TV series about the first Asian and female chair of an English department, the Chair is supposed to be a comical show about her journey in this new role. I only watched one episode but I'm interested to watch more. I will keep you updated on this.

This was a very exciting show to watch because it's one of the first truly other-worldly Korean TV series out there. There's something so important and special about seeing so many Korean people in a fantastical world, especially as someone who group up in America, where the only fantasy or science fiction films and tv series have a Eurocentric. Imagine how that could be such a disservice to a child who isn't of European descent.
I am very excited for the next season to come out.

I am usually not a huge fan of shows with lots and lots of guns (the only other exception to this is The Walking Dead) but this show is binge worthy. I began watching it to practice my Spanish, but it ended up being such a thriller I couldn't stop.
The premise of Money Heist is simply about an epic heist, as the title suggests, and what I enjoyed about it is that the gender roles were challenged. It didn't make me think too critically from a feminist lens which is honest-to-god such a nice break.

"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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