Assimilation is not necessary

The Inclusion Bites Podcast

16-12-2021 • 1 hr

Hung as a “triple migrant” believes when you are from an ethnic background that is not native to a country you end up living in, although you learn to follow the social rules and obey cultural values, you may never fully feel part of that group, without caveat. He remembers from his childhood trying to work out how he could belong better so that he didn’t stand out, even trying to wash his face for longer to make it appear whiter, after taunts that he looked dirty. This need to fit in can go in the wrong direction, with built up bitterness at not feeling including leading to either the person trying to over correct, becoming hyper assimilated, or going the other way and rejecting the culture that rejected you, and risking becoming permanently marginalised. Hung wants everyone to understand that it is OK to not feel like you belong.