Always a Stranger

A ‘Perpetual Foreigner’ is one form of racism that many Asian Americans face. It’s the idea that no matter the circumstances, you will be perceived as an outsider by the dominant majority, because you look like you can’t belong. One example of this would be an Asian American man who is third generation in the United States, and someone questions the legitimacy of their American identity with questions like ‘where are you really from? Where are your parents from? You’re not really from (any state), where are you originally from?’ or variation thereof. Have you ever experienced that wherever you went, you were always a stranger? A fear that if you went the wrong way, you would never find your way back to where you felt at home? As you reflect on those experiences, what is the effect those experiences have had on your body, your beliefs, and your spirit? What would it be like to give your body a place to rest and be known?

If you would like to explore these ideas further in therapy, please contact us to schedule a free consultation.