What is the danger in presenting a single story of a culture or group of people? How can we push back against cultural stereotypes and generalisations of what it means to grow up Asian in Australia?

‘No One Way to be Asian in Australia’ addresses the need for diversity rather than tokenism if we are to truly understand the experiences of those around us. Each of the writers involved in this series brings a unique perspective to the discussion, pushing back against the idea that there is only one authentic Asian Australian story, and demonstrating the importance of listening to and embracing a wide range of voices.

Panel + Podcast

This provocation series began with a panel event at Northcote High School on Thursday 23 February 2017, featuring Stella Schools Ambassadors Alice Pung, Leanne Hall and Rebecca Lim. Listen to the panel on our podcast here.

On the Stella Schools Blog

• Rachel Ang reminds us that assimilation isn’t the answer.
• Sanna Wei discusses the complexities of coming out.
• Shu-Ling Chua responds to personal and family pressures regarding sex.

Further reading and resources:

Fiction and Nonfiction books

• Growing Up Asian in Australia, edited by Alice Pung (Black Inc, 2008)
• Laurinda by Alice Pung (Black Inc, 2014)
• The Astrologer’s Daughter by Rebecca Lim (Text Publishing, 2014)
• Afterlight by Rebecca Lim (Text Publishing, 2015)
• This Is Shyness by Leanne Hall (Text Publishing, 2010)
• Queen Of The Night by Leanne Hall (Text Publishing, 2012)

Articles

• Who is an Asian? by Roanna Gonsalves for Peril, 26 October 2016
• Good Asian, Bad Asian: Wrapping Your Head Around The Contradictions Of Vietnamese Australia, by Stephen Pham for The Vocal
• Single Asian Female review by Yen-Rong Wong for The Guardian, 16 February 2017
• Living with racism in Australia by Alice Pung for The New York Times, 7 December 2016
• When race and class collide, the biggest challenge is using your voice by Alice Pung for The Guardian, 8 October 2016

• Pauline Hanson walks into a restaurant by Lisa Divissi for Overland, 21 February 2017

Videos

• The Two Chairs Interview Series: Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen

Other

• Voices from the Intersection – an initiative to support the creation of Australian YA & Children’s Own Voices stories through establishing publication & mentorship opportunities
• Pen Licence – a publication for teen Asian Australian artists to hone their craft, work with other Asian Australian artists, and to see their work published
• Peril Magazine – an online magazine focused on issues of Asian Australian arts and culture

The Stella Schools Provocations provide online content to stimulate discussion and deepen understanding around a range of issues pertinent to young people and the society that they are growing up in and the particular challenges they face. Each provocation will be discussed by three writers at a launch panel, which will be recorded and made available through the Stella Podcast, and a series on the Schools Blog will further explore the theme. All resources will be made available on the Provocations page.

To stay up to date with the ongoing Provocations series, sign up to the Stella eNews.