Scientific American
The Deadly Consequences of Hypersexualizing Asian Women
A long history of racism and misogyny set the stage for recent violence, including a murderous “bad day” in Atlanta
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A woman holds up her phone a during candlelight vigil in Garden Grove, California on March 17, 2021. Credit: Apu Gomes
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It makes me nervous to write this. I’m a science writer, after all. I rely on data and interviews with researchers. I’m no expert on race, gender and social issues, but like many other Asian American women these last few weeks since a gunman killed eight people in the Atlanta area on March 16 I suddenly found myself as an educator of sorts, a designated spokeswoman for the Asian woman experience in America. I took on this new role partly out of anger and sadness, and partly because I found my voice over the course of replying to texts from well-meaning white friends.