The New Leaders
Asian and Pacific Islander male youth are groomed to be the new leaders in their families and communities. As their cultural practices dictate, these young men are to follow in the footsteps of their fathers and elders. They are given ideas of the futures they are expected to have, and are often discouraged from pursuing anything else. However, there are young API men who wish to pursue futures of their own, oftentimes entirely different from their family’s ideals. They tend to hide their true desires because they will be met with negative tones and messages, echoing: “Why do you want to abandon your family?” or “Who is going to take care of me when I’m older?” Many families become overbearing on their sons, and it often places them in conflict. Familial pressure causes anxiety, whereby these youth can become more susceptible to peer pressure or even self-harm. Some fall into depression over the guilt their families have forced upon them. This mental state often goes unnoticed and untreated.
By Mitieli Gonemaituba, Content Contributor
