A new year: back to school, back to work, and a FRE$H new season. Welcome to season 2! In this episode, we dive into the term “boba liberalism” and why Subtle Asian Traits can be problematic.

Part 1: What is Boba Liberalism?

• A sweet, popular thing. Not very offensive. All sugar, no substance. We define the term and provide some Canadian political context.
• Our take on the term and our experience with Asian student clubs at University.

Part 2: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Subtle Asian Traits

• Facebook group with almost 2 million members, famous for memes and posts mostly based on the experiences of Asians from Western diasporas.
• Posts tend to echo the same message, everyone’s personality trait is loving boba, excelling academically, having tiger parents, being forced into the medical field, the toxic parenting, loving raves, anime, kpop, etc.

Part 3: Call to action!

• Find your own way of dedicating your time to activism, whether that be starting initiatives or just simply donating and volunteering.
• Advocate and fight for change beyond “boba.”

Articles referenced:

How Bubble Tea Became a Complicated Symbol of Asian-American Identity

Why I Hate Subtle Asian Traits

The Rise of Subtle Asian Traits, Should It Still Exist?

Interact with us on Instagram at Full Circle Podcast! We welcome all feedback, questions, and topic suggestions. Contact fullcirclepodcastx@gmail.com for business inquiries.

Hosts - Arlene & GeorgiaMusic - Benji by Dyalla

Cover Art - Saki & Newton

We would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

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