Some Incredible Achievements of Asian American Women
- Jonina Oskardottir
- Mar 31, 2021
- 5 min read
Asian American hate crimes, harassment, and discrimination have increased significantly in the past couple of months, especially because of Covid-19. It is incredibly worrisome as they seem to be escalating very quickly and the attacks are becoming more and more serious. Many have stated how frightening it is to be Asian in America right now, stating that, “It's scary just to be an Asian American.” Among this turmoil that has been happening, I thought it would be nice to shed some light on some influential and incredible Asian American women that make the United States a better place and continue to make a difference each day. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but rather to spotlight some extraordinary individuals worthy of recognition.
Kalpana Chawla
Kalpana was originally from Karnal, India, and emigrated from there to the United States with the hopes of becoming an astronaut. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Punjab Engineering College in India, a Masters degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas, and finally a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado. She underwent extensive training as an astronaut candidate and excelled in every test they put her through. Her dreams of being an astronaut came true in 1997 when she became the first Indian-American woman and second Indian-American person to go to space. Chawla made 252 orbits around Earth in about 2 weeks as a crew-member of Columbia on flight STS-87. She was selected for a second excursion in 2000, where she was a mission specialist on the STS-107 craft. Unfortunately, while returning to Earth in 2003, the shuttle malfunctioned and all seven crew members aboard were killed. The tragic accident occurred 16 minutes before their anticipated landing. Her determination and academic skills continue to inspire many and while her life as an astronaut was short-lived, ending at only 41 years old, her legacy will continue for young girls with dreams of being astronauts one day.
Sandra Oh
Sandra is originally from Ontario, Canada, and is the daughter of Korean Immigrants. She was born in 1971 and her acting career started quite early on in her life. After having her breakthrough role in Diary of Evelyn, her career took off. She starred in several films, like Under the Tuscan Sun and Sideways. She took on her most iconic role in Grey’s Anatomy where she gained quite a large fan base and was awarded several awards for her incredible performance on the show as the talented cardiothoracic surgeon Cristina Yang. Last March 21st, Sandra gave an incredible speech at a “Stop Asian Hate” rally in Pittsburgh. She mentioned the importance of providing a helping hand to her sisters and brothers. She also shouted how proud she was to be Asian and how crucial it is to be proud of your heritage. This was a different side to her and as a huge Grey’s Anatomy fan, I was extremely proud to see how someone I have looked up to for years being so involved and passionate about social justice issues.
Anna May Wong
Anna was born in 1905 as Wong Liu Tsong. Her family was originally from Taishan, China but her grandfather immigrated to the United States in the 1850s. She was born in Chinatown and raised in a diverse neighborhood in California. She grew up working in her family's laundromat, as well as attending a Chinese Mission school after enduring bullying at another school because of her race. She decided, at 9 years old, that she wanted to be a movie star. Her dreams came true as she dropped out of high school in Los Angeles to pursue a career acting full-time after being an extra in a couple of movies. Unfortunately, Wong found it difficult to find work in the United States and moved to Europe where she starred in many films, like Schmutziges Geld and Piccadilly. Paramount studios contacted her a couple of years after producing those films and she returned to Hollywood in the 1930s where she acted in numerous films. Throughout her career, she appeared in over 60 movies and was known as the first Chinese-American film star in Hollywood. She died tragically in 1961, but she left such a large impact on the entertainment industry and continues to do so to this day.
Patsy Mink
Patsy Mink was born in 1927 in Paia, Hawaii. She knew early on that she wanted to serve as an elected leader as she won her school election and became the class president of her high school. She was Valedictorian of her high school and she went on to Wilson College and the University of Nebraska but transferred to the University of Honolulu after experiencing racial discrimination. After not being accepted into medical school, she applied to law school and was accepted to the University of Chicago. She met and married John Mink and they had a daughter, Gwendolyn. After passing the bar exam, she was unable to find work because of her interracial marriage and decided instead to open her own office as well as founding Oahu Young Democrats. She became the first Japanese-American woman to practice law in her home state. She later became interested in earning a seat in congress, and she was successfully elected in 1962. Two years later, she was elected into the House of Representatives as well. She fought for gender and racial equality, affordable healthcare and served on several committees during her time in Government. She also served as the president of the Americans for Democratic Action and Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. She sadly died in 2002 after being hospitalized for pneumonia. Her legacy continues to live on as she was the first woman of color to be elected into the House of Representatives, and the first Asian-American to serve in congress.
Helena Zia
Helena Zia was born in New Jersey in 1953 to first-generation immigrants from Shanghai. After working for her parent’s floral business for most of her childhood, she entered Princeton University and later medical school at Tufts University. However, she dropped out after 2 years and began working in construction labor and community organizer, where she found her love for journalism and writing. She became very involved with activism and federal civil rights, especially concerning the murder of Vincent Chin. Her work revolved heavily around civil rights and gender equality issues. She also was involved in many film programs especially related to bringing awareness to Asian-American hate. She was named the most influential Asian American of the decade by A.magazine and got tons of other awards related to her extensive journalistic work. Zia also published several books, essays, and reviews, and served on boards throughout her professional life. In regards to her personal life, she, along with her wife, became one of the first same-sex couples to be legally married in California.
These incredible figures are a prime example of the strength we as women hold. In a time where hate seems to be incredibly prevalent, it’s crucial to remember the good around us as we celebrate our accomplishments as women. We should empower and uplift other women, especially Asian American women, during this time.
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