an asian men’s group

Why an Asian men's group? 

Most people seem to agree that there are particular issues that face Asian 
men in the US.  Asian men are quite absent from the media, positive role models 
are few and far between; they seem to live further outside of mainstream 
American society than do Asian women. Further, like all men, Asian men may 
carry cultural baggage, in this case,  thousands of years old, some of it worth 
keeping, and some worth getting rid of. 

The absence of a viable role model for the Asian male should be Asian men's
greatest opportunity.  Asian men can come together to play an active part
in creating our own role models and possibilities.  What does it mean to
be an Asian man in America?  How do our gender and ethnicity combine to
create opportunities and challenges in our personal relationships?  What
parts of mainstream Anglo-European culture might we choose to adopt,
embrace, or reject?  Of "Asian" culture?  What can and should we create for 
ourselves?

Suggested format for 1st mtg (times may change!): 
15 min: intro
15 min: brainstorm/commit to some ground rules (List A below) 
60 min: prioritize then start getting into issues (List B below) 
20 min: check in: what worked, what should change. Plan for next time.

A.  Some thoughts about structure and format. 

1. come up with a vision statement; also, ask each member think of a
personal goal (give them a week or so to think of one) that they'd like to
achieve with the support of the group
2. ground rules for interaction and decision making   
3. a committment to participate in a certain # of meetings  
4. creative ways of polling for opinions to help make decisions  
5. active listening, and encourage people to speak up during a meeting if
it's not working 
6. work together in smaller groups then get back together to share with
larger group 
7. private writing, then share with others (or not); maybe have the option
to submit anonymous writing 
8. bring in guest speakers, by group choice 
9. watch and critique films/movies/videos and media, articles 
10. other roles: a therapist as a consultant; Asian-Amer. Studies
grad student as an observer, source of articles and other media  
11. other activities: walks, hikes, drawing, music, and other forms of 
expression; meditation: have everyone write down a non-academic outing/activity 
and stick it in a jar. Then when group is scheduling outings, pick one out of the jar. 
12. technology if needed (Yahoo Groups)  
13. rotating meeting facilitation possibly 
14. meet weekly; 2 hrs, 2:15 hrs?
15. venue?

B. A list of topics for discussion 

1. race 
2. identity, incl. acceptance/non-acceptance in one's community
3. gender/sexism/women
4. class, education
5. language ability/issues surrounding language, e.g., "I have to do
everything for my parents because they don't speak English" or "I feel
guilty that Ięcan't speak Japanese when my other friends can." Also, Asian
men adopted by non-Asian parents. 
6. family expectations, tradition
7. individuality 
8. saving face 
9. communication styles 
10. sexuality, incl. heterosexism, homophobia
11. emotional  expression 
12. dating and relationships, friendships, e.g., "Most of my friends are
white."
13. children 
14. role models 
15. media representation also mainstream notions of beauty or what does it
mean to be handsome in the US
16. sprituality and religion 
17. careers: bamboo ceiling for Asian men in the workplace? discrimination 
in the job searches and discrimination?  Confucian modesty in an alpha
 male world?
18. aging
19. immigration