I was recently involved in youth parliament, and as part of the program, we went away on camp and did the usual frivolity. One of the events we had was a jungle-themed disco. I came as a Khmer hill-tribe lady, and was asked: “What are you meant to be?” I answered… “A lady from the forest,” and as I glanced around the room, I noticed that most of the youth parliamentarians were dressed in Tarzan-type inspired costume. Our dress is as below:
It dawned on me how much we thrive on stereotypes, and that is the way we perceive others in this world – the only way we seem to accept other people.
Recently I had a conversation with this lady about my faith and culture, and she had assumed I was Buddhist. I then answered that I was catholic, and she looked at me with utmost perplexity. We then proceeded to talk about identity issues, and she asked me: “So living in many different countries, I gather you must have had some difficulties with identity, how did you cope?” I answered… “I didn’t really… I knew who I was, except could not be that person.” She was flabberghasted all the same. It was an interesting conversation, revealing much about each other’s preconception, but it made me think how much of a need some people have to adhere to stereotypes to be widely accepted. Take a look at the Joy Luck Club – women have to be submissive or slutty or lying, sighing and dying to be Asian. Where are the pansy wong stories?
