I don’t even know if I like Lunar New Year all that much, to be honest.
It’s hard to step into the autonomy of adulthood when your identity has been defined by your family.
Their expectations were clear, and I was desperate to meet them.
Jennifer Li
Its hard to step into the autonomy of adulthood when your identity has been defined by your family.
I tried and failed to be a good daughter.
Despite how unhealthy I knew it was, I defined my self-worth through my academic achievements.
Surely, I would receive a reasonably good payout if I just endured some unhappiness.
You’ve spent so long biting your tongue that you don’t realize you’ve bit it off entirely.
You don’t know how to believe in yourself.
My parents didn’t believe in me.
They believed in risk-aversion, well-traversed paths of financial stability, and tradition.
Because there’s nothing wrong with risk-aversion, well-traversed paths, or tradition.
Those are important values in Asian cultures, and for a good reason.
Risk aversion keeps immigrant families safe in a foreign and potentially hostile country.
Well-traversed paths keep immigrant families fed.
Traditions keep holidays like the Lunar New Year alive.
Today, what makes me feel empowered are the women around me.
Asian American women in business, defying all preconceived notions and stereotypes.
She’s unmarried, childless with a dog, a van lifer, fiercely independent, andhappy.
I think of her whenever I feel powerless and remind myself I’m much less alone than I think.
Both of the babies are girls.
