My project

Hi all,

Here is a basic outline of my project that I'd like to share with you guys. The project is consisted of three separated stories about health issues in the Asian Community.

1. Domestic violence against seniors in the Chinese Community.

A story of elder abuse is rarely heard in the Chinese community, not because it barely exists but because the seniors almost never told it when they became victims of domestic violence. In a community where traditional culture values seniors, when parents are mistreated by their children, they are more likely to choose silence to protect their family reputation.

But preliminary talks with senior center operators and community organizations showed this is only a tip of the iceberg, and the cases may also be rising during the financial crisis which produced more frustrated and berserk young people.

2. The rising of HIV/AIDS among Asians.

When talking about the HIV/AIDS issues, Asian Americans may not be an immediate pitch. For a long time, Asian's infection rate has been the lowest among all ethnic groups. But a close examine of the annual statistics highlights an alarming trend-the increase of Asian's infection rate has dwarfed all others. Community based social services organizations also tracked a rising trend of infection among married Asian women.

More over, the stigma of men having sex with men, taboos against discussing sexual matters in some Asian communities and language barriers may influence some members of these groups to avoid or delay getting tested for the virus.

3. Suicidal Asian women

Asian women have the highest suicide rate of all women age 15 to 24 and those over 65. And two out of five Asian women over 65 suffer from depression, twice the rate of all women in this age group living in New York. Asian girls grades 5-12 show the highest level of depressive symptoms.

Several reasons could contribute to it, including the influence of home countries and living conditions. But what seems more disturbing is how this problem has largely been neglected by Asian women themselves and by the society.