Considering the unusual — and at times bizarre — questions prospective students are expected to answer when applying to Tufts (a short story about "toast," class of 2012?), it's no wonder that Tufts students pride themselves on being a creative bunch. Tufts alumna Cathy Bao Bean (J '64) is no exception.
Many of Bean's experiences at Tufts were a springboard for her career in the arts and media. Bean currently works as a successful author, educator and public speaker on cultural diversity.
At Tufts, Bean's outspoken independence lent itself to her attempts to break cultural barriers and work against stereotypes of Asian American women. Bean jokes in a short bio from the Indiana University School of Journalism that she majored in "History, Government and screaming."
From trying out for the role of Anne Frank to becoming the first Asian−American cheerleader at Tufts with her sister Betty Bao Lord (J '59), Bean worked to push beyond the confines of the Tufts bubble.
"My first year cheerleading, I ended up in a picture," Bean said. "The wonderful thing about that picture was that in 1962 when they were only allowing 165 Chinese [to immigrate to the United States] per year, I end up in Sports Illustrated — fully clothed, mind you."
Bean explained how many of her negative experiences as a young Asian−American female at Tufts helped fuel the work she does today as both an author and public speaker advocating for diversity and multicultural awareness. She cited how she was denied the part of Anne Frank in the Tufts production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" as one example of an experience that made her feel limited.
"It never occurred to me until I hit these walls [at Tufts] that I couldn't do everything that I wanted to do," said Bean. "It was a wonderful time and a fabulous education. And then it was also a big eye−opener, an education in terms of diversity."
In 2002, Bean published "The Chopsticks−Fork Principle: A Memoir and Manual," a book about her experiences as a Chinese−American caught between two cultures.
"Those of us who live on the hyphen — African−Americans, Chinese−American, or whatever — we have several selves," said Bean. "What is not diverse is this really fundamental idea that you have to be only one — when there's one culture or one kind of person — and that's a lot of hooey."
Bean also referred to "The Chopsticks−Fork Principle" as a manual that describes how she and her husband raised their half−Chinese, half−white son to be bicultural and satisfy disparate cultural norms.
"It's trying to teach people how to deal with what I call the ‘chopsticks−fork' principle," Bean said. "Look at very ordinary events — your first day at school, dining etiquette, birthday parties — and understand what is cultural in those steps."
Bean described how "The Chopsticks−Fork Principle" sheds light on the importance of stepping outside of comfort zones to benefit from greater awareness of diversity — within and around oneself.
As a charismatic speaker, Bean also travels throughout the country, candidly sharing her stories. "I look back at Tufts and the stuff that I remember that was influential — like when I tried to get a visa at the immigration department in Boston," Bean said. "I didn't have a passport, and the guy threatened to deport me. At the time, I just blew it off. But, in retrospect, that was an extremely good story that I tell now. And that makes it important."
Bean co−authored another book in 2008. Titled "Chopsticks−Fork Principle X 2," the work is a compilation of her stories written in both English and Chinese and meant to simultaneously teach and immerse readers in the culture of both their native and second languages.
With a third book for young readers already in the works, Bean continues to share her stories with all who will listen — from children and college students to prisoners and parents.
"It just so happens that the examples I use are primarily from the Asian [culture]. But no matter where I speak, the response is the same because it's the same, fundamental experience," Bean said. "These are cultural journeys. From grandma's house to the bowling alley, from China to America. That's a cultural journey."
