Connecting Asian American Pacific Islander Stories to Commemorate Women's Equality Day

Written by Jennifer Tofaeono, Executive Director Alliance
      July 2022, I attended the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Women’s Collective.  My interest in the Summit was to engage with participants and listen. It was impressive to hear the stories of AAPI women who were Legislatures, Judges, Community Influencers, and who held powerful spaces.  As I sat, I was encouraged hearing their stories.  These were women who were moved by their families and communities.  They recognized there were little to no faces that looked like them, me, or you.  The women speakers referenced their parents arriving to US.  They could not speak English or had little to no education.  They stood in lines for food, most living stuffed in one house with many family members or living in  government homes. 
 Their stories reminded me of the stories of many Samoan Families. In the 1990 United States Census, over 55,000 Americans reported to be Samoan descent, with most residing in California, and Hawaii.  Samoan immigrants were forced to pursue low-paying jobs as untrained laborers and had faced (and still do) considerable prejudice.  They were described as being violent.  Samoan Youths who were in gang activity led many to believe Samoan Americans were hoodlums.  As a Samoan woman who grew up in the 80’s, I had always wondered when would we begin to see equality, and yet it is still the question held by many Samoan youth today. 
      It is difficult to find role models who look like me, a Pacific Islander, unless your a football player, or a man.  I understand what it means to be part of a smaller piece of the world.  But reminding myself, just because we’re smaller, that doesn’t mean we’re less important.  I sat and listened to other women at the Summit share their stories of homelessness, not knowing they were worthy of living the American dream.  Speaker Bethany Kahn said, “I hadn’t planned on going to college, but my teacher said I was smart, so I enrolled.”  She is the Director of Communications & Digital Strategy at the Culinary Union, one of the largest and most powerful unions in Las Vegas, NV.  The women’s stories were powerful and filled with hope.  They each had to fight to change the perception society had, but what was more authentic was their desire to share their stories to allow others to move forward as well. 
      Women’s Equality Day is celebrated every year on August 26. On this day we commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting the right to vote to women, first introduced in 1878, and ratified August 26, 1920.  The Amendment provided “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”   Throughout time women have existed as political activist and the passage of the 19th Amendment negated the silence placed on women to gain equal rights.  As you move through the month of August take the time to learn what was done before you to ensure you would have Equality today.  Participate, and learn more about Equality Day.  Support movements to promote gender equality and help women’s rights.  Simple changes like policy in the workspace can be a big way to support Equality Day. This work never ends—learn more, do more.

Photo:  Speaker: Nevada Assemblywoman Selena Torres, Hawaiian, Brazillian  https://nhcsl.org/members/biography/asw_selena_torres/ 

Picture #2:  Moderator:  Danielle Moon, APAICS,  Hon Sheng Taho, Oakland Council President Pro Tempore, Hon Nima Kulkarni, Kentucky State Representative, 40th Legislative District, , & Hon Jan-le Low, Former President’s Advisory Commissioner, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.  

Picture #3:  Madalene Mielke, President CEO of Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS).