Asian-Nation is "an authoritative, one-stop information resource and sociological exploration of the historical, demographic, political, and cultural issues that make up today's diverse Asian American community." It can be accessed at www.asian-nation.org, and it can answer almost all questions non-Asians may have about Asian Americans. The site confronts the two major Asian stereotypes: that "all Asian Americans are the same" and that "all Asian Americans are foreigners." It also explains the differences in the many different Asian ethnicities. No matter how much you know about the Asian American population, Asian-Nation still has many important lessons to teach.
A site such as Asian-Nation is an immeasurably important tool for those working in all areas of the mass media. It explains the many subtle, and not-so-subtle, differences between Asian ethnicities. It is the perfect place for writers to make sure they're identifying an Asian American correctly. The more time someone working in the mass media spends at Asian-Nation, the better they will understand the Asian population in America and the less likely they will be to lump all Asians together as one group.
Of course, these advantages are important because writers, whether they're journalists, public relations professionals or advertisers, all strive to use their language with sensitivity to diversity. Recognizing diversity and representing it well makes for better writing. It also exemplifies professionalism at its best. When there are useful sites such as Asian-Nation at a writer's disposal, there is no excuse for offensive, careless writing. If a writer is uncertain of how best to word something regarding Asian Americans, Asian Nation is there to help.
No comments:
Post a Comment