Bound Feet and Western Dress -Chang Yu-I's Struggle with Identity

Erikson theorizes that in such a period, adolescents have certain tasks, one of which is identifying who they are. An individual successfully completes the task by staying true to his or her self, whereas when a person fails that stage, it leads to role confusion; consequently creating a weak sense of self. (Block 2011). The stage also entails a variety of personal challenges and limitations faced as well as a series of needs to be met, including: attention, guidance, independence, stability, and acceptance, among other needs. Meeting an adolescent’s needs is fundamental to their healthy development and personal growth. Nevertheless, adolescence remains as puzzling of a period in time for both the teens experiencing it, as well as for the individuals surrounding them, watching them as they navigate through the trials that adolescence brings them.

Adolescence is Erikson’s fifth stage of development wherein the person must master the conflict of identity versus role confusion. The question, who I am? Is a question that arises during this time? The child is concerned with

With respect to Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development, the adolescence is the stage of identity versus role confusion. He also believes that identity as the significant personality achievement of adolescence is an essential step toward becoming a productive happy adult (Feldman, 2006). I remember so vividly my high school experience; especially

It outlines the struggle an individual faces in finding stability between developing a sense of forming a unique identity while still being accepted and “fitting in” with society. Erikson believed that when teenagers adequately navigated their way through this crisis, they would transpire into having a clear understanding of their individual identity and easily share this new ‘self’ with others. However, if an individual is unable to navigate their way through this crisis period, they may be uncertain of who they are which can result in a lack of understanding, leading to disconnection from society and the people around them. If youth become stuck at this stage they will be unable to become emotionally mature adults, according to Erikson’s theory. This period of an individual’s life allows them to investigate possibilities which will lead them to discovering their own identity based upon the result of their explorations.

Immediately after the war ended in 1949, with victory for the Communist Party, new and revolutionary ideas were everywhere. Along with the spread of these new ideas was the spread of better education for women. The new ideals challenged the old ways that women should not be educated as much as men, or even at all. In the Qing dynasty, getting an education and being literate were seen as injuring the chastity and purity of women. If they went to school and got an education, women would find it extremely hard for them to get married, as Chinese society at that time dictated that women who were learned were seen as promiscuous or frivolous women. This all changed after the Communist Party took over the government, promising change and equal rights. Studies found that in the 1950s, the literacy rate of women increased. This change was mainly due to the increasingly available educational opportunities for younger girls at the primary school level, and since then, women have enjoyed the same educational opportunities as men did. This development in women’s education was made possible by the Chinese Civil War and the Communist government take

Adolescent is a disconcerting time when there are many life changes emotionally, physically, socially and psychologically. There are unrealistic expectations which lead to disappointment and rejection. The maturity level of adolescents makes them feeling life is not fair and things will never change to benefit them. Erikson’s identity vs. role confusion is an example of how developing into owns identity can be challenging, especially when learning how to transition into adulthood. Adolescence is one of the most importance stages in life where the mind and body goes through varies changes. When changes cause impairment or interfere with activities of daily living it results in

In the ancient Chinese culture, the role of women was very restricted. They were raised by their parents until the age of marriage to be given away to another family. When living under their father’s roof he was the one they had to obey to, once married they then had to obey to their husband. Women were restricted to the walls of their home, which is no longer the case nowadays.

Yu-I was a young woman who was expected to have bound feet if she ever wanted to marry. Having bound feet makes your feet smaller and indicates beauty. Women whose feet are bound have a better chance of finding love than women who choose not the bind their feet. Yu-I chose not to bind her feet, she could not find love in the chinese culture like she wanted, he husband soon left her because she didn't have bound feet. Yu-I felt it was not necessary to bind her feet, she didn't see a point or profitable outcome to it.

Furthermore, instead of arranged marriages that only benefited the patriarchal head, intellectuals pushed for marriages based on love which would create happy and productive citizens . In addition, based on her mother’s experience, Bao Qin rejects arranged marriages and intends to only marry for love . After hearing of two concubines who drug Cousin Hu’s mother to feign adultery and gain the favour of her husband, Bao Qin is enraged by the historic “powerlessness of women, [the] barbarity of age-old customs, cloaked in tradition .” With the broad shift from tradition as well as her own personal experience, Bao Qin rejects traditional gender roles and seeks to create her own. Furthermore, as China became divided into separate spheres of influence and opened to international markets, British and American industrialization brought new ideas of opportunities for women, challenging established gender relations . With new economic opportunities and education, women could become self-reliant, broadening their choices and their role in society. Consequently, after disobeying her parents’ command to attend Mr. Liu’s funeral, Bao Qin was able to support herself by enrolling in a new teacher training department . Reducing patriarchal control, industrialization allowed children to head to schools and factories, no longer needing to rely on their parents for education and work . As a result, while foreign

China has experienced several changes and evolutions throughout the centuries, though some of the most marked and influential changes stem from the transitionary period of the Tang dynasty to the Song dynasty. These changes, which include the re-definition of gendered space, the rise of the scholar’s status and the prominence of Neo-Confucianism (among other things) were not only political and economic evolutions, but also cultural shifts that would later characterize Chinese history. Let us begin by examining Neo-Confucianism.

In an account of her grandmother’s life, Pang-Mei Natasha Chang establishes the story of how Chang Yu-i continually challenged guidelines set by old Chinese traditions. Chang describes her grandmother as different than Chang Yu-i’s sister. She speaks to the author in a more modernized tone compared to the rest of her family members, as well as acts “more masculine” than her sisters. Chang Yu-i starts off by telling Pang-Mei Natasha Chang that “a woman is nothing”. (Chang, p.6) From a young age, Chang Yu-i did not have her feet bound. Without the intervention of her brother, her mother would have continued the method to make her feet smaller, on the basis that men prefer small, dainty feet. She was already more free than other women as she did not grow up with that pain. As she grew up, she saw her brothers were being tutored, inspiring her to want an education as well. What was different than her brothers’ educations was the fact that Chang Yu-i begged her father to find her a school or a tutor

The final attempt into molding Jing-Mei into becoming a prodigy was sending her to a deaf instructor for piano lessons. Since her teacher is deaf, Jing-Mei avoided learning from her mistakes when she played and brushes them off. Her mother hosts a talent show to portray her daughters “piano talent”. Jing-Mei has a small belief that there is a little of her prodigy left inside of her, however when she plays, she brings an embarrassment upon herself and on her parents. Her mother was speechless and once again, disappointed. A few days later, her mother reminds her that she has to practice her piano. This reminder was the final straw for Jing-Mei. She begins to confront her mother about how she will never be the perfect daughter and how she wishes that her mother wasn’t her mother. Her mother, still pushing her to practice reminds her that only the daughter with obedience can live in the household and that it is too late to change mothers. Then, Jing-Mei brings up the harsh topic that her mother avoids, the death of her first children. Jing-Mei exclaims that she “wish I were dead! Like them” (137).

For Erikson (1950) adolescence is a period during which individuals seek to avoid dangers of role diffusion and identity confusion by establishing a sense of personal identity. Individuals have to find answers for two major questions “who am I?” and “what is my place in society?” Identity is a “conscious sense of individual uniqueness” and an “unconscious striving for a continuity of experience” (Erikson, 1968, p. 208).

For my life journey I have chose to use Eric Erikson’s theory I have decided to use his theory because to me his theory suited my life appropriately. Eric Erikson is a well known theorist from the twentieth century, he has produced many theories. One of his most known and recognized theory is the psychosocial development. This theory describes the steps a person goes through in life. There are nine stages in his theory. Originally his theory only eight steps, but his wife found the last step after his death and published it. The nine stages are: trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame and doubt, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. role confusion, intimacy and soliditary vs. isolation, generativity vs. self absorption and stagnation, and integrity vs. despair. Although, I have not gone through all of these steps yet due to my age I am only twenty two. I will speak about the steps I have gone through so far.

Intro : When growing up we as people continue to go through stages. When growing up I hit the stage Identity vs. role confusion by Eric Erickson. This stages hits at age 12-18 years. During those years teens don’t know who they are and what their personal identity is. A person does this by exploring their personal values, beliefs and goals. The teen also wants to fit in with everyone else.