Biti
“Women are expected to have the strength to bear children and to nurture their entire family. Why put a box around what they can do with that kind of strength?”
Biti’s versatility and independent nature have broadened her capabilities and interests, especially in the world of sports. From roller-skating to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, her drive to learn and excel at anything she is passionate about is apparent. Growing up, she was taught that her athletic abilities and confident nature were not traditionally “feminine,” and therefore deemed deviant characteristics. Despite the stereotypical boundaries that attempted to restrict her, she has proven that a woman’s physical strengths cannot be confined. Meet Biti. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
B: My name is Biti Nguyen and I’m a first generation Asian-American. I’m a User Experience designer who’s currently residing on the outskirts of Los Angeles, California. I am passionately curious about how the world works and my career allows me to understand human behavior in order to create solutions for their needs.
Outside of my career, I love to cook and love to try all sorts of physical activities. I’ve competed in Muay Thai Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu where I currently hold a black belt. I also actively roller-skate at skate parks.
K: Describe yourself in your own words
B: I am inquisitive, adventurous, and determined.
K: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
B: My desire to learn about everything has made me a jack of many trades, and even a master of some! I feel like my thirst for knowledge has helped me evolve into a decent conversationalist. I love learning about people and their walks of life. In return, my many, many interests often brings something a little unusual to the table when I talk about myself.
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
B: Like most children with immigrant parents, I grew up as a latchkey kid. I spent a lot of time alone and it forced me to mature and learn to how to be independent very quickly. I’m very self-sufficient and can easily figure out how to do something with little help from people around me. I did have to learn that it’s okay to accept help from other people as well and have learned to enjoy learning how other people do things.
K: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
B: I wish someone would have taught me that it’s okay to make mistakes. I grew up in an environment where making mistakes meant you got criticized and ridiculed. To this day, I have a hard time accepting mistakes and can default to deflecting. I’m working really hard to take ownership of my actions, knowing that correcting mistakes will lead to greater personal growth.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
B: I feel that Asian cultures to this day still put a lot of emphasis on what is traditionally expected from a woman. Growing up, I was told that girls should be soft spoken, quiet, delicate, nurturing, polite— pretty much be as docile as possible. I always thought I was a “tomboy.” I was loud, rowdy, sporty, strong, and assertive. It wasn’t until very recently that I learn those weren’t boyish traits at all. Those were traits you’d expect from lively children. My culture taught me that it wasn’t acceptable behavior for a girl or woman and that I was not considered “feminine.”
To me, being a woman is about being strong enough to do whatever it is you want to do. Women are expected to have the strength to bear children and to nurture their entire family. Why put a box around what they can do with that kind of strength?
I think that a lot of women feel confined by this box. My favorite thing about being a woman is being around other women who thrive in seeing each other become the best versions of ourselves in all of our pursuits.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
B: Jane Estioko was one of my first coaches in martial arts. She’s currently the lead matchmaker for Bellator MMA. I believe she encompasses everything that is traditionally expected from a woman. She’s so beautiful, respectful, and poised. I used to want to be just like her until I learned that wouldn’t make me, well, me! Still, I am amazed at the way she excels in a male dominated career/world all while remaining true to herself. She taught me that you can get where you need to be if you are hardworking and diligent enough.