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Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts chronicles part of Kingston’s early childhood and her experience as a first-generation Asian American child. The memoire revolves around her relationship with a quiet Chinese classmate and gives a glimpse at the cultural differences between Chinese and American cultures. Kingston’s portrayal of a Chinese American immigrant family leans toward a more traditional Chinese household with spiritual values. However, as a result of technological advancements and evolving norms, Chinese immigrant families have evolved to adopt certain aspects of foreign cultures while retaining the essence of their heritage.

            Kingston’s memoire depicts a Chinese family rooted in traditional Confucian values. Her family perfectly fits the Chinese immigrant stereotype in respect to their broken English, Buddhist superstitions, and Chinese customs. Compared with modern times, Kingston’s immigrant experience may not apply to the Chinese immigrant families that we see today. Technological advancements such as the creation of the internet have greatly increased the flow of information towards individual households. As a result, modern immigrants now have access to American media and have a greater understanding of American culture before their immigration. Likewise, Chinese parents are less likely to personify the strict Asian parent that values academic results over their children’s wellbeing. While I somewhat sympathize with the Chinese academic focus, my own upbringing did not emphasize academics to the degree of those as Kingston and those portrayed in Amy Chua’s Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.  

            Despite the differences in time periods, Kingston’s experience as a first-generation immigrant still runs parallel to the experiences of many first-generation immigrant children today. While Chinese culture has evolved to become more lenient than traditional customs, the emphasis of filial piety is still prioritized in Chinese households. Filial piety is a result of Confucian ethics and teaches users to respect/obey their parents to bring honor to the family name. While culture has evolved to be less demanding of one’s children, Chinese parents still expect for their children to obedient to a degree while also respecting the parent’s teachings. Similarly, many Chinese natives have inherited an uncanny dislike of Japanese people. The hate is derived from Second Sino-Japanese War, specifically the Rape of Nanking. Nanking, which at the time was the capital of China, was invaded by the Japanese in attempts to gain more political control and raw materials. The Japanese takeover eventually led to an unjustly rape and massacre of the city that lasted six weeks. As a result, propaganda between the two countries has pitted them against one another in a sour relationship. While advancements in communication have eased some tensions between the two countries, the ongoing denial of the event by Japanese officials still leaves a bitter resentment by many native Chinese born people.

            Although Kingston eloquently chronicles her experiences as a first-generation immigrant, many of her experiences do not translate well onto modern times. If I were to author my own memoirs, I would instead illustrate my experiences assimilating into American culture, my struggles dealing with a double consciousness, and the growth of my personal network. Instead of focusing on the feelings of alienation as Kingston did as an immigrant from her time, I would deviate my memoire by highlighting the normalness of my childhood. The contrast between the memoires would serve to represent the changes brought upon by the turn of the millennium. To some, my story may seem a bit commonplace and provide no groundbreaking input. To others, my heritage may impede the true essence of a “true blooded American story.” While views and stories may vary, the culmination of all these diverse stories is what makes America the unique entity that it is.