The Cyber World, Family, Freedom of Speech and Feminism

It's been less than two weeks since I have been back in Hong Kong and already have I been lectured by my family and apparently extended family behind my back that I am publically too opinionated and leave too many footprints on the internet.

What stemmed as a warning from my father and sister regarding my playful Facebook post recruiting a Latin dance partner became a long lecture in regards to what I post on Facebook, what my extended family thinks and my political rants. While I can understand their intentions mean well, I can't shake the feeling that our freedom of speech as simple as a humorous harmless post about a Latin partner reads as conspicuous, enough to jeopardize my job in academia. Are we living in the 19th century? Apparently what was supposed to be a post regarding me myself and no one else became a familial issue of extended relatives I no longer see.

The extension of this lecture was the condemnation on my political rants that more so than ever is open to the public to see. My family's concern being it will jeopardize not only my job but personal safety. While I defend myself saying if one day my words were that influential in the political arena that I were to be jailed or worse kidnapped, then at least my voice had it's effect and value. My family being a very traditional family of course did not understand my logic, but I can't help but compare the freedom of speech and values contrasting the east and the west. There is a stark and frightening difference in the two that worries me. What has the world I grew up in become of? A place that is not able to tolerate opinion? It does not seem to be the melting point of the east and west it used to be but rather the domination of conservative people.

Interestingly enough the notion of life goals surfaced, and while it was pointed out my opinionated personality will attract no suitor, I retorted that a man who cannot tolerate different opinions is not worthy to be my husband anyway. And while is was highlighted that no men would be able to tolerate me, and that it basically means I will have to learn to live the spinster life and focus on my career, I remain that that will be my choice, no regrets.

It however frustrates me to think that while we live in the 21st century, we still believe that women or should I say wives are to be submissive and wait to men's hand, feet and every need. While it is concluded that I will have no offspring and hence no daughter, I find it sad that future women are still conditioned to believe their roles are to obey and not raise their opinion, they should not voice their thoughts. Which led me to think, even if I will never bear my own children, I must one day adopt, adopt a daughter and make sure to raise her to be a critical, bright thinker rather than the factory duplicated women society has conditioned us to be. I shall fight that institute till the very end!