8 Asians

Our internal e-mail lists have us discussing all kinds of stuff: Asian American identity, representation in the media, the experiences of activism in an academia setting and its progression as we transition to the working, adult world. And sometimes, we talk about how Lena Dunham, star and creator of HBO’s Girls, recently posted an Instagram photo of herself draped in a black scarf (or blanket) like a hijab with the following caption:

“I had a real goth/fundamentalist attitude when I woke up from my nap.”

Whoa, seriously? Does this girl not understand what religious fundamentalism means and what Islam is? Or is this really no big deal? The photo has since been deleted but here’s what our writers thought:

Joz: I don’t understand what’s so “goth” about it.  Is it because it’s black?  *confused*

Edward: This is typical white privilege frivolity.

Xxxtine: Clearly she needs to refer to the Oxford (or Webster) Dictionary to look up the meaning of both those words.  I clearly don’t see anything goth or fundamental about that dress.

Jasmine: Doesn’t Lena mean “funDUMBentalist?” Now if y’all will excuse me, Imma go back to stanning for Mindy Kaling, Aisha Tyler, and other funny ladies on the twitterspaces.

Mihee: Since when do goths where big grandmother shawls? Or is that what the youngins do these days? And I don’t get why she combined that with fundamentalist? Fundamentalist Amish? Fundamentalist Evangelical? Seriously? Why does she have an HBO show?

Jasmine: PS. If I had to reply in GIF form, I’d use this:

Xxxtine: Here’s mine:

And mine:

So what are your thoughts? No big deal? Rude? Offensive? Who cares because it’s Friday?