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Woman-to-Woman
HerStory Series
Helen Zia is the author of "Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People," and co-author, with Wen Ho Lee, of "My Country Versus Me." She is an award-winning journalist and a contributing editor to Ms. Magazine, where she was formerly the executive editor. Helen is a graduate of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, where she was a member of the university's first graduating class of women. She quit medical school after completing two years, and went to work as a construction laborer, an autoworker, and a community organizer, after which she discovered her life's work as a writer. Helen Zia was the guest speaker for the Asian and Pacific Islander Women and Family Safety Center's 10th Anniversary Banquet. The Asian Pacific Islander Women and Family Safety Center (APIWFSC) is a nonprofit domestic violence agency based in Seattle, Washington.
HZ: Thank you for having me. It's great to be back in Seattle. JNA: As the guest speaker for this event, what is the message you want the community members to absorb and walk away with? HZ: My talk is one of a personal nature of how this issue of family violence affects all of us in our community, whether it's in our own families or not. I think even today there's a reluctance to acknowledge and talk about it, to embrace dealing with domestic violence by our whole community. I also think that we as a community need to be a part of a larger anti-violence movement. It's not that there's some violence that occurs in the privacy of our homes and other violence that happens in Iraq or on a global scale. It is really all part of the same cycle. And that is my message. It's about our safety; it's about the lives of the women and children, and also about the effects of violence in our own communities, as well as the country and the world. And that affects every woman, man, boy, and girl. I think it's something that everybody in our community should be involved in and supporting the API Women and Family Safety Center and organizations working in the domestic violence movement. JNA: As a long-time community activist, what progress have you seen in two points: one, as an Asian American, and two, as a woman in this country? HZ: Well, I go back a little bit, and what I remember is both women and girls having no voice and visibility at all. And Asian Pacific Americans, forget it. We were not even on the radar screen. When you look at that and compared that today, our community as Asian Pacific Americans make-up about 13 million in this country. In the State of Washington, we have an Asian American governor, Governor Gary Locke. As well as Asian Pacific Americans in the State Legislature, in Congress, and other leadership positions in political and grassroots level. Things are now a little different. Not so long ago, the issue of domestic violence to people are not talked about-people see it as the woman's problem; a dirty laundry that she shouldn't bring out for everybody to see. So the fact that woman around the world have created this huge movement to advocate against domestic violence, that itself is a big change for the better. JNA: What are the challenges that we need to overcome? What are the remaining hurdles that we need to climb in order to progress further as Asian Pacific Americans and as women? HZ: I think that though we made progress, progress is relative. I'm looking at the days when we had nothing. So from nothing to something, is a lot of progress, but we're not there. We still had horrible violent acts that happened where women and children are not safe in their own homes and communities. A lot of barriers haven't changed. There's a greater recognition of domestic violence and gender violence, but I think all too often, it's lip service, we really don't see the commitment, so that is a barrier that we have to overcome. JNA: What are some of the recommendations that you would like to suggest overcoming these challenges? HZ: I think that it is critical is for all of us to be visible and to be vocal. To let our needs, our concerns, our issues, our points of view, let them all be known. That is what we always have to do. JNA: The month of May is observed as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Do you see this as opportunity to educate others about our history as Asian Pacific Americans in United States, or do you see this as a challenge that the rest of the population only observe and recognize Asian Pacific American Heritage one month in a year? HZ: Of course, there should be things all the time. We don't just become Asian Pacific Americans one month of the year. There are needs and issues, and great dynamic events happening in our community all the time. Though it is good to have time set aside to recognize and celebrate our heritage in our communities. JNA: What have you learned in this journey-- personal, spiritual, and as a community organizer? HZ: I feel that I am learning continuously and that journey is nowhere near done. But I learned to always be open to learning new things from new voices. Within our own communities, really be able to listen and be open to learning all the time. And that's one of the things I really learned. The more we learn, the more really there is to learn. JNA: Thank you so much Helen. As a writer, community activist, and an Asian American woman, you are an inspiration to me. HZ: Thank you Joann. Good luck on your journey. Just remember that wherever you are in your journey, it is still part of your journey. JNA: I receive that. Thank you for your kind words. (Republished with permission from the author and from Filipino American Herald. Article originally published at Filipino American Herald on May 2003.)
Woman-to-Woman Babaylan and HerStory Series: _____________________ ©Copyright 2003. Joann Natalia Garcia Aquino. All rights reserved. .
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Immigrating from the Philippines Discussion in our MagsalitaKa
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