Examples Of Biculturalism In The Joy Luck Club

Biculturalism Exposed in Joy Luck Club

America does not have a culture. The established American society is made up of multicultural peoples that are forced into assimilation by social pressure. Webster's dictionary defines biculturalism as the existence of two distinct cultures in one nation. I am a prime example of biculturalism in America. My mother was born and raised in another country and her daughter was raised far away in the United States. The novel "Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan illustrates biculturalism in America and the profound impact it had on the main character's life and is paralleled, in many ways by my own.

Asian and American cultural ideas and beliefs differ in many ways. The American culture values

Both of our mothers had been raised in the Chinese culture and this is reflected in their parental styles. Our self-perception had just come about differently. Mine was through that of others and hers was on a subconscious

Whether it was multiplication tables or spelling words out loud, I always had to have "brains with beauty." To me at the time this statement was inferring how stupid she thought I was. I thought she meant my head was just full of air and I had to work harder on being smart. Every time my report card came out I prepared myself for the speech that ensued. The teachers somehow year after year would come up with the same quote on the back of my report card. Monica is a very bright girl, she has so much potential, and she just doesn't try hard enough. I always thought getting Bs was good enough but my mother acted as if I was flunking