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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!tekid!tekig1!barbaral
From: barbaral@tekig1.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.women,net.news.group
Subject: Re: net.women.only
Message-ID: <1279@tekig1.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 24-Aug-83 11:52:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekig1.1279
Posted: Wed Aug 24 11:52:14 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 26-Aug-83 06:17:28 EDT
References: <570@ihuxr.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 31

I am Chinese American.  At my college, there was an Asian American
Club, as well as a sorority for Asian Women Only.  I support these
groups in their function of helping other Asians feel comfortable
in a primarily white environment.  Many of the Asians on campus were
raised in Chinatown type environments, predominately Chinese people.
When they came to college, they felt like everyone was staring at
them, etc.  I was involved informally counselling some of my Asian
peers.
I refused to join either of the above clubs, for they seemed to take
on the attitude that Asians are better than any other race, almost a
case of reverse discrimination.  If we Asians (or any other minority
group) want others to accept us as equals, we do not accomplish that
by putting ourselves above them....discriminating against them as they
have discriminated against us!!!  Also, these minority organizations
often seem to isolate the minority, rather than integrate them with
the rest of the people.  Many of my Asian friends involved in the
clubs only had Asian friends, and their only social activity was with
the clubs.
I'm still a bit unsure of my stance on these types of groups, especially
since I'm an engineer, and there are women's engineering type groups
around, formal ones, such as SWE, as well as informal support groups.
Like many issues in life, I don't think it's all spelled out in black
and white.  I've been to some get togethers that are very supportive
and helpful.  I've been to other women's get togethers that sit there
and say that "all men are screwed" for two hours.  So I guess it really
depends on the women involved.  In summary, I support minority groups
only to the extent that they help the people involved, but not to the
extent that they are putting themselves above others, or isolating 
themselves from others.