Transnational Chinese Entrepreneurs for Sexual Wellness:
Reflections by Siyun “Selene” Pan
Selene is Chinese-Japanese and grew up in Shanghai, China, before moving to Costa Rica and the U.S. Having experienced gender bias in healthcare with underdiagnosed and overmedicated ADHD, she is passionate about exploring emotionally safe and gender-equitable health services. She is a trained abortion doula and is currently exploring body literacy, specifically fertility awareness in holistic reproductive health. Throughout the year, she is based in Oberlin, Shanghai, and Toronto. In her free time, she boulders, plays tennis, and explores 3D printing.
“Growing up immersed in the nuances of Western and Eastern cultures, I often felt as though I was straddling two worlds — 'sandwiched' between them. This unique intersectionality sparked my desire to explore the topic of female wellness, specifically transnational Chinese entrepreneurs within the sexual wellness sphere. My journey started with working as a member of Nike's bra team, where I conceptualized a fresh packaging concept and bra unboxing encounter to increase female empowerment. My discovery continued through my work with The Oh Collective, a sexual wellness company conceived by four second-generation female immigrants, including Dutch-Chinese, Chinese Canadian, and Chinese American.
With the support of Shansi, I had the extraordinary opportunity to observe a day in the life of the founder of AFSP (Asians for Sex Positivity), Xixi, a Canadian-American of Chinese heritage and recent graduate of Barnard College at Columbia University. We met on a Sunday, a day she typically reserves for recording or editing AFSP podcasts. Xixi opened up about her journey with AFSP and her commitment to sexual wellness and de-stigmatization, which was palpable throughout her living space. Her apartment was a visual feast of art celebrating human anatomy, filled with pieces that advocate for intimate wellness and openness: The shower curtain featured artistic depictions of the female body, a framed illustration of sex toys titled “Where’s Dildo?” whimsically parodied the puzzle books, a three-dimensional vulva sat on a table. The most astonishing pieces are paintings by Xixi herself. With a specialization in acrylic, Xixi uses lively brushwork and bold hues to paint vivid close-ups of intimate encounters, often between people with vulvas. Her paintings have been featured at places like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Apicha's Trans Day of Remembrance Virtual Art Gallery. After visiting Xixi’s apartment, we toured unique neighborhood establishments including Kinky's, New York City's first adult bakery famous for its genital-inspired desserts.
Our dialogue extended into a podcast recording where I had the opportunity to share my personal and professional experiences in the field as a guest on Xixi’s podcast. In the episode ‘How Do We Define Sex’, we delved into my experience working for a female wellness brand founded by Asian women, the impact of abstinence-focused and fear-based sex education in our formative years, and the importance of maintaining 'wellness' within the domains of intimacy and sexuality. We also discussed common struggles that Asian women face in accessing wellness resources and a pressing need for comprehensive, inclusive, and culturally sensitive health education.
My Shansi research project with Xixi was an inspiring opportunity to gain insight into young Asian women working actively to demystify sex and create educational resources around the sub-topics of sex, such as pleasure, boundary-building, and self-expression.
During my interactions with Xixi, I resonated with her personally, admired her professionally, and felt hopeful for the next generation of Asian kids who might have also felt or are feeling 'sandwiched.' Insufficient knowledge or limited access to resources can be passed on to future generations, while open platforms for learning and discussion can transform perspectives and impact more communities. Xixi’s advocacy opened my eyes to the multitude of diverse forms sex education can take, beyond once-in-a-blue-moon health classes: It can be as creative as a painting, as conversational as a podcast, or as quick as an Instagram story. Education should be immersive and accessible, not occasional. There is so much we can do as individuals to promote a sex-positive environment, from educating ourselves by reading books with informed discourse to supporting POC entrepreneurs in sexual wellness by buying their products and more.
This year, I'm running a psychology research project in collaboration with Professor Phoenix Crane's Lace Lab, exploring how cultural and immigration backgrounds influence one's sexual wellness. The inclusion of women and gender-marginalized youth, especially people of color, in health is not solely about representation. It is about addressing systemic disparities and ensuring every individual has the knowledge and autonomy to make informed decisions about their health and well-being, a fundamental human right.”
Recommendations for media for further exploration:
Podcasts & Instagram accounts, mostly Asian-created: The Oh Collective, Asians for Sex Positivity, Better in Bed (@hellosarasense on Instagram)
Books: Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life; Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters — And How to Get It; How to Think More About Sex
