From the Kitchen to Kingdom: Reclaiming Dreams
My mother always carried dreams in her heart—of music, ballet, and dancing anywhere life led her. Yet, in her era, fame felt within reach but true self-fulfillment remained elusive. Caught between her parents’ expectations, tight social norms, and her own worth, she learned to navigate womanhood through a man’s lens.
Growing up under similar pressures, I’ve often wondered why steady work and independence can’t guarantee happiness for women. Society seemed to value her by others’ desires rather than her talents. In chasing fulfillment, she sacrificed precious parts of herself.
Taiwan’s push for internationalization only amplified my own insecurities—at home, at work, and among other cultures. In those moments, I long for my mother’s cooking: the savory broth at the temple noodle stall we frequented, the comforting aroma that once filled her kitchen. Now her palate has faded, and attempts to learn her recipes never quite capture that original magic.
In a world buzzing with noise, my motivation to cook for loved ones wanes. I support myself, yet I’ve come to see that if we cannot feed ourselves, kindle a flame, and sustain our bodies, we risk losing our deepest confidence. Hands-on creation is the bedrock of human assurance.
My own journeys to Europe were full of surprises, coinciding with Taiwan’s election of its first female president—a milestone for women’s identity and self-worth. A woman leading both kitchen and country sparked public and private dialogues. But beneath the celebration lingered the smoky scent of freshly lit firecrackers, a reminder of how far gender dynamics still must evolve.
Though times have changed, the deep currents of Chinese society’s power imbalance run on ancient testosterone. Even now, friends and family ask, “When will you settle down?” suggesting a woman nearing her thirties must put marriage above her career. Yet I believe true empowerment lies in reclaiming our own narrative—transforming the sensory rituals of hearth and home into a kingdom of self-created purpose.
