This obviously looks different from my regular nutrition + recipe posts, but the magnitude of everything that has happened in the year and these past few weeks pushed me to gather up all my thoughts in a way that reminded me of why I initially wanted to start blogging almost 8 years ago – to share a perspective from my own lived experiences that might be different from you, in hopes that it serves you in some way. You can take or leave what you need from this. I don’t believe we all need to agree on the same things. Perspective is a beautiful thing and so is having the respect to acknowledge somebody different from you. The election brought something up that I felt like I needed to share – the topic of representation in the media.
And okay let’s be real – the memes have been great these past few weeks and honestly just one of the things that have kept my mental space afloat during this year and election season, but I didn’t feel like sharing one just to share one and to hope that it gets my point across. I also don’t feel the pressure to do something on social media just because everyone else is doing it – just not my style. However, I know that with any kind of platform on social media comes with its territory and responsibility, especially as someone who is considered a minority in the field with some power to influence. So, I fall back to my trusted way of having an outlet to express – writing. Real words and not just a thread on carbs or cauliflower rice. While that’s also super fun for me, it has its time and place. I thought I originally wanted to be a journalist when I was younger (though I’m not a perfect writer) before I thought I wanted to a dentist before I finally thought that nutrition was my thing – change is constant so who knows what’s even next? 🤪
I don’t think I can move forward talking only about nutrition or recipes (a privilege I acknowledge in itself) without talking about how + why, especially now more than ever, representation matters – in my world of health + wellness, my own experiences as an Asian-American woman in nutrition, and everything I do in my career to advocate for health. The wellness industry we’ve built here – while with some good intentions, is an industry that works to often make things feel exclusive instead of inclusive. One rotation in a food desert as a dietetic intern (ask any dietitian) will start as a catalyst to open a pair of eyes to experiences that might have looked very different from their own. Accessibility to healthier food options is a true barrier to health among many other factors and I never want to make anyone feel like just because they don’t have the latest (insert new product here!), they are unable to attain personal health.
And I certainly don’t think I can sit and talk about making nutrition happen – for all, at that – without talking about specifically why this topic of representation + empathy needs to be at the forefront all the time. In every industry yes, but since this is from my lived experience – representation + empathy in the field of dietetics is particularly worth it for me to continually fight for.
Photo Credit: @theconsciouskid + @austinchanning
I saw this photo thread above on Instagram Sunday of people sharing their children in front of the Biden/Harris speech and for some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
For someone that is somewhat introspective (at least I’d like to think so – thank you, therapy) I couldn’t shake off the feeling of why I kept going back to these photos above and feeling like there’s just something deeply personal – things besides political parties, voting for change, and post-election fatigue.
And then it hit me this morning:
because it reminded me of how I use to long to find the representation that just wasn’t there when I was growing up.
Coming from parents that are not native to this country AND having close family members + loved ones that identify as LGBT AND having a background with Christian values while simultaneously growing up the Bible Belt (please be respectful here) – well, finding my own identity in a world that looks so different from me was a hard task to maneuver. Throw all the extra pressures about careers, success, what my parents thought success meant, and overachieving to compensate for all of this while wrapped up in a Type A personality – trust me when I say, I’ve had a few meltdowns myself throughout the years and any success you see here (or anywhere else from anyone, I don’t care who they are) doesn’t come without it.
I never felt like I fit the mold of everyone else around me and I still don’t – here’s why:
Breakdown of RD’s by Ethnicity in the United States:
- 81% White
- 4% Not Reported
- 4% Asian
- 3% Hispanic or Latin X
- 3% Black
- 1% Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander
- 1% Other
- 0.5% 2+ races
As you can see, I identify with around 4% of other dietitians also represented in the Asian category in this industry. So why does representation in matter? In not just dietetics but the overall healthcare field (and quite frankly everywhere – but trying to keep it mostly in my scope here today)?
Because people come from diverse backgrounds and are more likely to feel connected to someone who looks like them. We, as health providers help people pursue wellness in a way that work for them and we HAVE to account in their own lived experiences that helped shaped their idea of health. That matters because our view of health starts at a young age. The marketing particularly for nutrition + wellness is predominantly white and while that feels harmless at first when that’s all we see and know, it’s sending mixed messages to communities that cannot relate and telling them subconsciously that they are unable to achieve their health goals because the representation (or education) is just not there.
This extends beyond nutrition and in every industry – the idea that empathy matters and representation is one way it feels like it can reach those who do not feel seen.
We cannot shame others for their food choices, never in any situation but ESPECIALLY if it’s from a cultural perspective. People share a connection with groups they identify with and we have to communicate that health can look like all different backgrounds and ways. That can start with representation. And respecting differences. And advocating for diversification in all ways. If you feel like you can’t relate to this, it might be because you’ve had the privilege to have never had to deal with this before. Maybe that hurt a little for you, and maybe it didn’t – but I trust that we’re all mature enough to handle it.
And TBH while we’re at it, the same translates across all industries and in life:
We simply cannot shame those who do not share the same perspective or experiences we have.
I’m acknowledging my own privilege in being able to say this but there’s space to be passionate and loud for something you stand for and there’s also space to be able to process this quietly on your own terms. Social media is never a full reflection of a person and I think now more than ever, we need to extend our capacity to give compassion, grace, and a mind that is open to listen. There have been so many wins and losses for all of us individually and I think there’s room for all of us to at least be seen and heard.
It deeply hurts me to my core to see people on social media run rampage with hateful, shaming comments from all sides and parties. Shaming others for what they believe in is something I cannot stand behind. I’ll be honest when I admit the sheer disappointment from seeing that come from even my own peers, but that does not mean I can make assumptions to respect them any less, without a full picture of the reasoning of their behavior. It just means that we won’t always agree on the same things – I’ve made the personal choice to always be the first to listen before I speak.
Photo Credit: @darlingSo going back to the looking at the post of kids across the country feeling seen through Kamala Harris that night – regardless of political lines, I hope that we all share the hope and excitement to help contribute to the work that creates a world where we can acknowledge our differences with a level of empathy. I know how much that would’ve influenced the younger me, and I’m thankful for the platform that I’ve been given to represent those who can relate to me to pursue their own paths, whatever that might be.
Maybe Biden / Harris was not your first choice and maybe it was, but I do believe that the way our leaders speak can influence the tone they set for those around us, no matter how different we may be from each other. My vote will always go towards the ones that have the most potential in showing us that there’s possibility in moving forward as a country that continues to build all of us up instead of tearing each other down. And I simply just do not choose to stand for leadership that do not believe that everyone can exist here without the same rights – respectfully.
Please remember that these are all of my personal opinions, obviously and this is my corner of the internet that I deeply appreciate. I will never take for granted this space that I get to have. If you don’t agree with me, that’s okay. If you felt uncomfortable reading this, that’s also okay – we’ve got so much more work to do in this world, I don’t think it’s ever too late to start understanding. I’d love to open up the opportunity for us to have these conversations openly and with respect so feel free to send me an email should you want to discuss further. Because regardless of our personal or political beliefs, I truly believe the only way to move forward in our communities, this country, and in this world is to face disagreement with humility and empathy.
May
If you’re an RD or RD2B, check out Diversify Dietetics for ways to contribute – a organization that works to increase diversity in the field of nutrition.
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