Cristina Yang: “You are the Sun”
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““You are a gifted surgeon with an extraordinary mind. Don’t let what he wants eclipse what you need. He’s very dreamy, but he is not the sun. You are.” - Dr. Cristina Yang (Season 10, Episode 24)”
Debates and discussions around diversity and inclusion have dominated the mainstream consciousness for a while now, especially in the context of representation on-screen. While I remain critical of the politics of representation, I have to be honest: Dr. Cristina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy profoundly impacted how I saw and continue to see myself today. As one of the first racialized women I saw on tv playing a character who continued to stand in her power no matter what the challenges were, Dr. Cristina Yang’s influence continues to ring true over a decade later.
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve re-watched Grey’s. It’s my comfort show despite its reputation for being highly dramatic and sometimes even fantastical in nature. Recently, the return of deceased characters have ignited speculation about whether everyone’s favourite, Dr. Yang, will also return to the series. Unfortunately, Sandra Oh has made it clear that she has no plans on returning to the show. The role of Dr. Cristina Yang resulted in Oh’s first Golden Globe award. Oh was awarded her second Golden Globe for the role of Eve Polastry, in the show she now stars in, Killing Eve.
Watching Oh’s departure episode from Grey’s (Season 10, episode 24) left me wondering about the effect of the character Dr. Yang especially regarding how I viewed advocating for myself. Among the countless storylines that shaped my understanding of agency and standing in my power, Cristina choosing her career over and over again taught me several important lessons, some of which I still carry with me.
Cristina’s unwavering commitment to her career helped me articulate to those around me that putting myself first is far from a selfish pursuit. I’ve heard several different opinions on Cristina’s choice to have an abortion, particularly concerning the character’s perceived emotional detachment from the process. At such a formative age, that moment signalled to me that it was okay to make choices that society might vilify you for. Cristina’s choice broke several normative constructions of femininity and gender, including what isn’t an “appropriate” emotional response to abortion. Choosing her career over raising children, a choice that may still raise eyebrows, shaped my understanding of agency when I hadn’t gained the vocabulary to speak on the issue.
“Cristina’s unwavering commitment to her career helped me articulate to those around me that putting myself first is far from a selfish pursuit. ”
Cristina’s choice to terminate her pregnancy later led to her having to end her relationship with Dr. Owen Hunt, who, as previously mentioned, used the abortion to berate Cristina any chance he got. Cristina’s interactions with her partner’s dismay and emotional abuse regarding to abortion only further solidified for me that agency comes with a commitment to advocacy. Agency and advocacy are inextricably tied in a world that continues to undermine people’s choices for what they do with their bodies. A gentle reminder to those contemplating their right to choose: Building a support system that respects your choices does not always have to be family. Fighting for yourself should never be a lonely task.
