As the article says, “In the world of literature, Maxine Hong Kingston and Amy Tan have captured the imagination of the United States with their writings based in part on their personal experiences and stories told in their families.” This is apparent due to the obvious connection between Amy Tan and June’s life where both are daughters of Chinese women who immigrated to the United States and have conflicts with their mothers who struggle with understanding Americanization. The article also states that immigrants from Asia “joined social organizations. District associations ( huiguan ) and family associations ( gongsuo ), respectively, represented the collective interest and well-being of persons from the same villages or counties and persons with the same family names.” This ties into The Joy Luck Club because Suyuan Woo was a member of The Joy Luck Club in China and joins another sector when she relocates to the United States. The club gives her a feeling of comfort and provides her with people who are sharing similar experiences. The members all have to deal with Americanization while holding on to the Chinese culture. When Suyuan dies, June joins she fears she will not live up to the expectations and be able to replace her mother in the club.
“Chinatown was a permanent home for the Chinese who were cut off from China "like orphans" and yet disenfranchised from the Euro-American mainstream.” This is very much true for the mothers of the Joy Luck Club, who interacted mainly with other Chinese immigrants in Chinese stores and in Chinese apartment complexes. School is the main place where in immigrant would be able to become exposed to more cultures and assimilate easier, but since the mothers were too old, it took place in the daughters’ lives. This article also points out that while many immigrants want the rights of citizenship, they still will attempt to teach their children about the Chinese language and culture. This is depicted many times throughout the Joy Luck Club, especially when the daughters are still developing or are teenagers. Jing-Mei’s mother wants her to be a Shirley Temple at one point, and yet still remain with the Chinese modesty and respect. “District associations and family associations, respectively, represented the collective interest and well-being of persons from the same villages or counties and persons with the same family names.” This represents the Joy Luck Club perfectly, as it was a way for the families to share their stories and remain friends and keep up with the Chinese culture.
When the Chinese emigrated from China into the United States, they brought with them their Chinese culture and traditions. In American society, they were excluded because of their difference from white society. Due to this isolation from living normally, Chinese-Americans, over time, began to assimilate into American culture. This is seen in June, Rose, Waverly, and Lena. These four daughters grew up in American society, and therefore yearn to fit in. These actions clash with their mothers’ ideals in how they should think and learn. When the four mothers emigrated from China, they had no connections to this new world. What gave them comfort and reassurances were these Chinese churches, who were “trying to convert and assimilate the Chinese.” When several of the Chinese women came to America, they were accepted by the church. The Joy Luck Club sprouted from the women she met there, in turn giving each of them a sense of family in a strange, new place. Once they have their daughters, keeping the Chinese traditions in the family becomes tough. As I stated earlier, the four girls yearned to fit in to American life, therefore rejecting some of the Chinese ideals. Many cultural aspects are lost to the next generation.
I agree with both Jordan and Allie when they point out that the district associations brought together people from the same villages or with the same family name. This is exactly how the Joy Luck Club was brought together and what gave each of the women a sense of belonging.
I agree with Jordyn when she suggests that the children are further taken away from their Chinese culture when they enter school. I also agree with the idea that it contributes to the mother-daughter conflict and culture gap. Darian makes a good point when she says that many cultural aspects are lost from generation to generation due to Americanization, too.
Darian made a good point about the Chinese churches pulling many of the new immigrants together under one roof and allowing them to establish friendships and feeling of community. There is also a general agreement that the daughters feel that Chinese values do not mesh with an American way of life, so they generally get ignored.
As the article says, “In the world of literature, Maxine Hong Kingston and Amy Tan have captured the imagination of the United States with their writings based in part on their personal experiences and stories told in their families.” This is apparent due to the obvious connection between Amy Tan and June’s life where both are daughters of Chinese women who immigrated to the United States and have conflicts with their mothers who struggle with understanding Americanization. The article also states that immigrants from Asia “joined social organizations. District associations ( huiguan ) and family associations ( gongsuo ), respectively, represented the collective interest and well-being of persons from the same villages or counties and persons with the same family names.” This ties into The Joy Luck Club because Suyuan Woo was a member of The Joy Luck Club in China and joins another sector when she relocates to the United States. The club gives her a feeling of comfort and provides her with people who are sharing similar experiences. The members all have to deal with Americanization while holding on to the Chinese culture. When Suyuan dies, June joins she fears she will not live up to the expectations and be able to replace her mother in the club.
ReplyDelete“Chinatown was a permanent home for the Chinese who were cut off from China "like orphans" and yet disenfranchised from the Euro-American mainstream.” This is very much true for the mothers of the Joy Luck Club, who interacted mainly with other Chinese immigrants in Chinese stores and in Chinese apartment complexes. School is the main place where in immigrant would be able to become exposed to more cultures and assimilate easier, but since the mothers were too old, it took place in the daughters’ lives. This article also points out that while many immigrants want the rights of citizenship, they still will attempt to teach their children about the Chinese language and culture. This is depicted many times throughout the Joy Luck Club, especially when the daughters are still developing or are teenagers. Jing-Mei’s mother wants her to be a Shirley Temple at one point, and yet still remain with the Chinese modesty and respect. “District associations and family associations, respectively, represented the collective interest and well-being of persons from the same villages or counties and persons with the same family names.” This represents the Joy Luck Club perfectly, as it was a way for the families to share their stories and remain friends and keep up with the Chinese culture.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Chinese emigrated from China into the United States, they brought with them their Chinese culture and traditions. In American society, they were excluded because of their difference from white society. Due to this isolation from living normally, Chinese-Americans, over time, began to assimilate into American culture. This is seen in June, Rose, Waverly, and Lena. These four daughters grew up in American society, and therefore yearn to fit in. These actions clash with their mothers’ ideals in how they should think and learn. When the four mothers emigrated from China, they had no connections to this new world. What gave them comfort and reassurances were these Chinese churches, who were “trying to convert and assimilate the Chinese.” When several of the Chinese women came to America, they were accepted by the church. The Joy Luck Club sprouted from the women she met there, in turn giving each of them a sense of family in a strange, new place. Once they have their daughters, keeping the Chinese traditions in the family becomes tough. As I stated earlier, the four girls yearned to fit in to American life, therefore rejecting some of the Chinese ideals. Many cultural aspects are lost to the next generation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Jordan and Allie when they point out that the district associations brought together people from the same villages or with the same family name. This is exactly how the Joy Luck Club was brought together and what gave each of the women a sense of belonging.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jordyn when she suggests that the children are further taken away from their Chinese culture when they enter school. I also agree with the idea that it contributes to the mother-daughter conflict and culture gap. Darian makes a good point when she says that many cultural aspects are lost from generation to generation due to Americanization, too.
ReplyDeleteDarian made a good point about the Chinese churches pulling many of the new immigrants together under one roof and allowing them to establish friendships and feeling of community. There is also a general agreement that the daughters feel that Chinese values do not mesh with an American way of life, so they generally get ignored.
ReplyDelete