I want to be there for all those who are left behind in this world, whether it's because they are born poor, born a woman, or born in an area affected by devastation.
If you read a lot of Chinese literature, there has always been very strong women figures - warriors, swordswomen - who defended honor and loyalty with the men. So, it's not new to our culture - it's always been very much a part of it. It's good that now the Western audience would have a different image of the Chinese women.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the historical strength of women in Chinese literature and their roles alongside men, emphasizing a shift in perception for Western audiences.
Michelle Yeoh reflects on the strong female characters that have existed in Chinese literature, such as warriors and swordswomen who embody honor and loyalty. She points out that these depictions are not new but a longstanding aspect of Chinese culture, suggesting that there is an opportunity for Western audiences to gain a deeper and more diverse understanding of Chinese women and their roles in society, challenging existing stereotypes.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about gender representation, one could quote Michelle Yeoh to emphasize the importance of recognizing strong women in all cultures.
More from Michelle Yeoh
All quotes →I have very supportive parents who said, 'Go and do what you want to do. Home is always here for you, and if you don't like it out there, come back. You can always do something different.' So when you have an option like that, you are able to choose roles or choose the things you want to be in.
I'm not a fashion victim, and I don't closely follow trends. I dress the way I feel comfortable because, at the end of the day, you have to be comfortable.
For me, beauty comes from natural happiness. I think that a woman glows, and a man, even, when they're healthy and they're happy.
Let's empower men and help them take a stand to stop acts of violence against women.
Wai Lin is the first Bond Girl who is on a par with Bond, someone who can match up with him mentally and physically. From the moment our characters see each other, there is a wariness and a recognition that this person is not who she or he seems to be.
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Culture is worth a little risk.
Maybe it's naïve, but I would love to believe that once you grow to love some aspect of a culture-its music, for instance -you can never again think of the people of that culture as less than yourself. I would like to believe that if I am deeply moved by a song originating from some place other than my own homeland, then I have in some way shared an experience with the people of that culture. I have been pleasantly contaminated. I can identify in some small way with it and its people.
We Americans are childish about our celebrities and icons. We worship, then we denounce; we identify passionately with them and then, if they do something - anything - we dislike, we cast them off.
People come here penniless but not cultureless. They bring us gifts. We can synthesize the best of our traditions with the best of theirs. We can teach and learn from each other to produce a better America.
Hollywood likes to put actors in boxes, and it likes to put Asian actors in really small boxes.
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