Leong, Pandora. "Living Outside the Box."

Pandora Leong begins this self narrated text by expressing the discomfort she has with her coworkers who outwardly and unconsciously categorize her as "other." Working in the Department of Juvenile Justice, Leong explains her role as passing as a middle class, heterosexual, Asian woman.   These experiences within the workplace help Leong elaborate on her political identity outside of the workplace as an Asian lesbian feminist.   Furthermore, this article provides a feminist analysis of identity and shows how differences at work can be representative of larger political climates.   For example, Leong is politically conscious of the way her coworkers perceive her which matches the way strangers perceive her.   Through Leong's personal reflections the reader is able to grasp the real world implications of intersectionality and what bell hooks' theorizes about -living on the margins of society. -B.H.

This author exposes the ways in which feminism has been influenced by race, class, and gender. The author criticizes feminism suggesting that despite progressive views, society continuously fails to deconstruct many prejudices and preconceived notions about race, class, and gender. Leong asserts such opinions by stating that, "Our colorblind society not only devalues our differences, but also denies our experiences, thereby eliminating the potential for empowerment--and revolution. Leong describes her life, and passing for middle class, she exposes some of the widespread social factors that perpetuate inequality and help to silence real, pressing social matters. These social factors may include the ways in which feminism has unintendedly further entrenched archaic ideas about race, gender, and sex. The struggles she encounters as a young girl passing for middle class exemplify the challenges she faces throughout her adult life as well. Leong warns that, "I am not society's fear yet I am not quite a friend. The anger born of pain and the awareness of the history that flowed before me still motivate me. The bonds of passing and the entrenchment of expectations shape our shared landscape regardless of gender, color and class (355)." The author asserts her views about passing and social entrenchments by choosing not to pass. As a woman, a member of the middle class and a feminist, Leong concludes to suggest that no one box society mandates could contain all elements of her truest identity. -B.M.

This article is almost a rant-like narrative from an Asian queer feminist on the dynamics of race, gender, and sexuality and the injustices done based on each individual aspect. Leong tackles each trait of herself - her ethnicity, her gender, and her sexuality - and shows that with all three characteristics outside the box of the mainstream, Leong is triply at the mercy of a non-egalitarian social structure. The article argues for taking pride in ones' differences and using it as a political statement, as well as for the effort to change society. This article is useful for women of color and a non-heterosexual status who labor under similar disadvantages. -C.S.