Teach diversity early
As a subscriber to the Taipei Times, I was glad to read Wang Ping (王蘋) (“The rainbow flag that just won’t fly,” June 15, page 8) discussing how schools should teach gender equality. I would like to extend Wang’s argument by stating that calling a teenager “sissy,” “damn homo” or “butch” is far more serious than it appears.
According to Joel Burns, a US politician who is famous for bringing up the issue of suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, lots of teens commit suicide having been sexually bullied by their classmates because of their sexual orientation. Although the situation in Taiwan may not be that serious, I still feel we should try every means possible to prevent Taiwanese teens from suffering the same agony.
Wang made a lot of sense by pointing out that when the Gender Equity Education Act (性別平等教育法) defines terms like “sissy” as taboo, it does not help teach students the right attitude toward different sexual orientations. As well as teaching gender diversity in schools, I think it is important to teach our children to be confident of their differences so that whenever they encounter sexual bullying, they will have the assurance to fight back properly, instead of having to bear groundless shame.
As a student who has studied the impact of picture books on children and knows that the inculcation of gender equality should start as early as possible, I believe a good beginning would be to instill gender diversity and confidence in kids by reading related picture books. For example, boys should not be depicted wearing blue all the time; instead, pictures of boys with longer hair, in pink shirts or playing with dolls should be acceptable. By getting used to these non--stereotypical images, children are more likely to be open-minded toward gender diversity and learn that they are actually allowed to be different.
Most important is that adults, especially parents, should shoulder more responsibility for homophobic attitudes. Children and teenagers are like sponges, absorbing whatever they hear and see. Therefore, being good role models is more influential than simply teaching the rules. Television programs, newspapers and other media are supposed to educate the whole public to respect and value different sexual orientations. Otherwise, even though the next generation is ready to let the rainbow flag fly peacefully, parents will still turn away from it.
Thanks to Wang for directing our attention to gender equality and the correct way to fight the sexual bully. Let’s hope Taiwanese will begin to not only accept diversity, but also to welcome it.
Y.J. LIAO
Taipei
Misdirected priorities
Since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) started his re-election campaign, he has attended many ceremonies, including one dance show in a costume and mask and this year’s Golden Melody Awards. This is a “show” — a strategy to get young people’s votes.
Obviously, his outlook for re-election is not very promising after a shaky and lackluster three-plus years in office has brought down his support among young people. Now, he is especially ubiquitous at occasions geared toward wooing young people and their votes.
However, when it comes to tackling national issues, like the Typhoon Morakot disaster, the food scare and national sovereignty, he is either slow in action, takes no action or is sometimes even nowhere to be seen.
His campaign theme is populist--oriented, but his actions have brought Taiwan’s politics to an unprecedented vulgar and tawdry level.
If Taiwanese fail to see through his tricks and consequently fall into his trap again next year, there will be no end in sight for the decline of Taiwanese society.
YANG JI-CHARNG
Columbus, Ohio
Savage talk in modern times
A recent article about this year’s Golden Melody Awards ceremony that was carried live on national television noted that a “crosstalk” show by comedians Feng Yi-kang (馮翊綱) and Sung Shao-ching (宋少卿) quickly became awkward when the two performers used derogatory terms in what they thought was a humorous manner. They called [Aboriginal band] Matzka a huan-a or “savage,” band, and said that the [girl] group AKB48, guest performers from Japan, came from a fanbang or “savage country.”
It is shocking that popular Taiwanese comedians can still get away with such rude slurs in this day and age.
However, a Taiwanese friend who also saw the show on television later told me that there was a special context to the sketch, saying: “It wasn’t really so bad if you knew the background to the comedy skit they were doing. In the show, they supposed they were officials during the Ming Dynasty in China. They tried to talk like Ming Dynasty people in those days, long ago. In those days, Japan was really called fanbang and Aborigines were referred to as huan-a in Ming Dynasty terms. Sung knew it was a bad term and he immediately said that as a modern Taiwanese, he, Sung, personally respects Aborigines as the ‘original people’ of Taiwan.”
“The insulting term huan-a only became taboo here in Taiwan about 20 years ago, so there are still many people who don’t consider the word an ethnic slur, although, of course, it is,” my friend added.
DAN BLOOM
Chiayi City
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