Women In The Woman Warrior By Maxine Hong Kingston

The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston portrays the complicated relationship between her and her mother, while growing up as a Chinese female in an American environment. She was surrounded by expectations and ideals about the inferior role that her culture imposed on women. In an ongoing battle with herself and her heritage, Kingston struggles to escape limitations on women that Chinese culture set. However, she eventually learns to accept both cultures as part of who she is. I was able to related to her as a Chinese female born and raised in America. I have faced the stereotypes and expectations that she had encountered my whole life and I too, have learned to accept both my Chinese and American culture.

My mother and I live are the only ones in our family who live in America, while the rest of my family lives in Hong Kong. I met my

She comments on my clothes, my hair, and says I look like a “Ghost girl.” Even when we are sick, we argue about whether to take medicine prescribed by a doctor or the traditional herbs and remedies that she grew up with like Brave Orchid did with her sister’s medicine. My mother is adamant on her beliefs and I feel it is unfair of my mom to be so close-minded and stuck in her traditional ways because she always told me that she immigrated to America for a better life and a fresh state. If she was going to uproot her entire life to begin a new one in a foreign country, how did she expect to survive without learning to compromise and accept the American culture? My feelings are parallel to Kingston’s in how she felt frustrated by her mother’s tenacity in only accepting Chinese culture. I think sometimes my mother’s stubbornness pushes me more towards Western culture. In fact, from time to time I find myself using the phrase “you Chinese people” when I ask my mom about my culture, and she always scolds me and asks “What? You aren’t