Young Asian-Australians Carve Out an Identity of Their Own

I'd pick a bar over a club any other day but, I am proud to say that I went Asian clubbing (D1!) for the first time in my life recently.

Beyond the pure fun I had, it was an interesting ethnographical experience to be immersed in an environment full of 'LGs' (little girls) and 'LBs' (little boys). This might not mean much to our white audience, but LGs and LBs are one of the defining archetypes of the Asian-Australian identity. They're hard to define, but you know an LG and LB when you see one: LGs have a distinctive type of makeup, complete with heavily drawn brows, fake eyelashes and occasionally, dyed silver/blonde hair. They often sport tight bodycon dresses or otherwise, Nike sports bras and short shorts. LBs meanwhile, will often wear tight shirts with hair smoothly buzzed on the sides. More often than not, you'll catch them muzzing. Both LGs and LBs typically share an interest in EDM/trance/hardstyle, often wear athleisure, and will most definitely have an active presence on Instagram. Surprisingly, I enjoyed D1. I often find myself in white environments - at work, at the law school, even amongst my group of friends - where I'm the 'token' Asian or at least, definitely in the minority. At an Asian club, it honestly felt so nice being in an environment where the majority of people looked like you, and who more likely than not, share a similar upbringing to you.

For all the memes that are made about LG/LB culture, they represent what Australia increasingly looks like. One in two Australians are now either born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas, and they more likely to have roots in Asia than Europe. In a country that is still trying to adapt its multicultural population with its “Australia-First” rhetoric, it's refreshing to see young Asian-Australians, who have 'grown up melding the expectations of immigrant heritage and traditional Australian identity', carve out their community and claim their identity.

- Isabella