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You are an Asian American female who has it all together: you may have an advanced degree, you are a hard working professional, you have savings in the bank, perhaps even a house with a yard. Underneath the apparent success and achievement, are you really all that happy?
Research and statistics painted a surprising and bleak picture: Asian American women have the highest suicide rate among all women in the United States. These studies also shown that there are high numbers of Asian American women suffer from depression and have contemplated suicide. This doesn’t make a lot of sense, since Asian Americans are considered the “model minority” who has shown to be a highly successful group in the American society. Why are so many Asian American Women depressed and feeling suicidal?
Many researchers argue that Asian American culture is achievement oriented, that you are expected to succeed in all areas of life, and there is no room for failure. The pressure to be highly successful is often unrealistic and caused a lot of stress for Asian Americans regardless of gender. For the Asian American Women, however, there is additional stress caused by having to manage or deal with conflicting sexual stereotypes as well as being hyper-sexualized. Many experience confusion in having to adopt between identities of the strong and powerful “dragon lady”, and the passive, soft and submissive role. How can you be expected to be accomplished and outspoken at the same time being passive and modest? Other than these dualistic societal images, Asian American Women also face additional stress from their family expectations. All these factors may contribute to a limited sense of identity and self-worth, which also results in depression.
I have seen many of these issues come up in my therapy practice, again and again, despite of whether these women are born in US or are first generation immigrants. They work hard to be academically successful or have a well respected career. Some also struggle with dating or being in relationships, choosing an Asian or non Asian life p art ner, and between being independent or losing oneself within relationships. At some points in their lives, many of them experience high anxiety, depressed mood, confusion and inner conflicts that are so strong and unbearable that they become depressed, and have thought about ending their lives.
As an Asian American woman, I have also grappled with many of the same struggles and periods of depression. I encourage all of us Asian American Women out there to find your identity, find your place, be kind and accepting of different and creative ways of being in the world. And as a therapist, I urge those of you who experience depression to reach out for support, to your friends, to your community, to your spiritual guidance, or to a culturally sensitive therapist. You can end depression with some outside help. You don’t have to be alone.
You may be interested in learning more about this topic on the following links:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113114107
http://www.womensenews.org/story/mental-health/060918/asian-women-face-model-minority-pressures
This article was written by Joy Tsai Yuan Hung and first appeared
here,