Michelle Wang-Week 4

In “Radicals On The Road”, Wu discusses that there have been female activists from all over the world collaborating together in order to understand that many Southeast Asian women were victimized and depicted as exotic sexual subjects during the Vietnam War (7). In addition to female activists from North America supported Southeast Asian women, Wu states there was solidarity in order to build the international anti-war movement (8). Solidarity allowed female activists to have a voice and lessen male dominance in government and politics. This lead to a positive relationship between the East and West coming together to focus on understanding the Vietnam War and empowerment of women. The conferences allowed for unity and sisters around the world to focus on peace for the community and be able to stand up for her own rights (10). With this, female individuals are able to have basic privileges in what she wants from her country as this affects family and community. As there is unity among North American females and Southeast Asian sisters, communities are educated about issues affecting women. More communities will become more relatable to these issues as this relates back to North American women as subjects to Imperialism similar to Southeast Asian women victimized during the Vietnam War. This relates to the SEA American Community as Women in Southeast Asia: Center for Global Education- Asia Society discusses that SEA women are expected to fulfill her duties as a mother and wife, often get marginalized in the politics, get paid less than male colleagues, and continue to advocate for her own rights (2). Even though Southeast Asian and Asian women are expected to be submissive, many female activists continue to advocate their rights, share narratives with the public, and there is more community support. Recently Koseff, Chavez, and Fletcher state that female activists and advocates continue to take part in promoting human rights and women’s rights after the inauguration of Trump at the Women’s March on Sacramento (1). The Women’s March on Sacramento is one of the sister marches for the many individuals that cannot make it to the Women’s March in DC and continues to carry on the solidarity and legacy among unity for sisters around the world. 

Picture Citation: Women's March on Sacramento. 2017. Sacramento.

Question:  How can allies and communities continue to help and advocate for women’s rights in order to make greater changes happen?

Citations: 

Koseff, Alexei, Nashelly Chavez, and Ed Fletcher. "Women's March on Sacramento Reaches Capitol Steps within 20,000 People, Policy Say." The Sacramento Bee, 21 Jan. 2017. Web. 27 Jan. 2017. <http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article127914504.html>.

"Women in Southeast Asia." Center for Global Education. Asis Society, 2017. Web. 27 Jan. 2017. <http://asiasociety.org/education/women-southeast-asia>.

Wu, Judy Tzu-Chun. Radicals on the Road: Internationalism, Orientalism, and Feminism during the Vietnam Era. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 2013.