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Why Are Some Asians So Quiet All The Time?
There’s the common racial stereotype that Asians are quiet, and also shy and silent all the time. Sometimes this is true and there are reasons behind that. Many of these reasons are due to cultural upbringing stemming from school and class. Cultural upbringing and values also play a part in why some Asians are quieter…
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Art vs. Science: Why I Don’t Regret Choosing Writing Over A Career In Numbers
Art or science? That’s a choice we might have to make at some point in our lives, maybe when we’re deciding what to study. Or choosing our career. Or deciding on which passion path to take. Art is commonly thought of as abstract work, work that doesn’t always follow particular patterns, work open to interpretation.…
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Your Dreams Vs. Unsupportive Asian Parents: Finding Your Way
We all have passions and dreams, which our parents might not always agree with. In a stereotypical Asian family, artistic and creative dreams tend to be frowned upon, and we might have second thoughts about chasing them. Writing is something I love. Seven year old me rushed home after school and wrote fictional adventure stories…
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Swearing And Cursing In Chinese And Cantonese: The Profanities We Say, And Why
Swearing in Chinese culture is always a colourful affair. Some vulgar, curse words in both Chinese language and Cantonese dialect get straight to the point, while others are more subtle and rather hilarious. When I was growing up, my parents threatened to slap my palm with a ruler if they heard me uttering a profanity…
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Why Mental Illness Is Stigmatised in Asian Cultures
Metal illness is usually a taboo topic many Asian cultures. It’s an unspoken topic that is stigmatised, shunned and hushed among many of stereotypical Asian background. I was born in Australia to Chinese-Malaysian parents. No one in my family brought up the subject of mental health when I grew up. At some point in my…
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Why Some Asians Are Obsessed With White Skin
White, fair skin is skin quite a number of Asians long for and actually go after. With the help of makeup and beauty products, a fair complexion is very much achievable for any of us. When I was younger, I considered alabaster skin – skin as pale as the typical Westerner’s fair face – the…
Mabel Kwong 