Asian Activists: A World Outside the West

It is well known by now that the Asian community in the United States, and in the West in general, is not a monolith. There are so many cultures, values, beliefs and experiences under the big umbrella of the Asian identity. In this article, I will highlight some Asian women who have made an impact on their communities and the world.

Vandana Shiva (India)

Vandana Shiva is an Indian environmental activist. Her work is centered around sustainability: more specifically, the intersection of sustainability and women’s rights. Shiva wrote an article on women and agriculture entitled Most Farmers in India are Women. She then went on to serve as an advisor and consultant for various organizations, from the Indian government to the Women’s Environment & Development Organization. A crucial aspect of Shiva’s activism is her passion for reviving ancient traditions that demonstrate how we can live in harmony with nature. Vandana Shiva is a trailblazer of ecofeminism with her activism for women, farmers, and the world as a whole.

Suzuyo Takazato (Japan)

(Trigger Warning: mention of sexual assault, war)

Suzuyo Takazato is a Japanese feminist and activist whose advocacy focuses on the connection between military intervention and sexual violence. Takazato assisted in the creation of a rape crisis center in Okinawa. Her words led to many people in her hometown starting to question things and protest against American military presence in the region. Takazato explained the connection between war and the exploitation of women by saying, “Prostitution and rape are the military system’s outlets for pent up aggression and methods of maintaining control and discipline- the target being local community women.” Takazato received several awards for her human rights activism.

Geraldine Roman (Philippines)

Geraldine Roman is best known for being the first trans woman in the Congress of the Philippines. She has fought for LGBTQ+ rights, veterans’ rights, and access to education. She worked with fellow activists to push an anti-discrimination bill through that would protect people from being discriminated against on the basis of their gender identity or sexual orientation. This bill passed in 2017, after which Roman went on to become the first transgender woman in the armed forces in the Philippines. Deservedly so, Geraldine Roman was named one of Time magazine’s inspiring women and a Leading Global Thinker by Foreign Policy magazine.

Zheng Churan (China)

Zheng Churan was arrested by the Chinese government for her activism against sexual harassment. She worked with four other Chinese feminists to plan a campaign against how women were treated on public transportation. Following this ordeal, Zheng’s husband was arrested without any information given to the family. Refusing to be discouraged, Zheng started a Twitter hashtag to draw attention to her husband’s situation. She began running and sharing updates on her runs with the hashtag #RaceToFreeWeiZhili. Zheng wrote that her husband was arrested for drawing attention to unsafe labor conditions, among other activism he was involved in. Today, there is not much information on how the situation ended, but Zheng Churan’s courage, activism and drive will never be forgotten.

image source:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/387591111683018366/