Shanghai Cultural Identity

What I found to be the most interesting through my readings, and interview, is the amount of loyalty to family that Chinese Americans have. During the interview MiMi talked about her family, and the relationship she has with her family in China, and her family in America. She described her father’s dedication to family as the upmost important thing in the world. Many Chinese American families, no matter what their economic status, has a strong value on keeping the family intact, and close (Wang, N.D). I was unfamiliar with the family bond that Chinese Americans have. I could see the pride that MiMi’s grandmother had when talking about her children’s accomplishments, as well has her granddaughters. They showed me tons of pictures, and

Four Chinese mothers have migrated to America. Each hope for their daughter’s success and pray that they will not experience the hardships faced in China. One mother, Suyuan, imparts her knowledge on her daughter through stories. The American culture influences her daughter, Jing Mei, to such a degree that it is hard for Jing Mei to understand her mother's culture and life lessons. Yet it is not until Jing Mei realizes that the key to understanding who her

Growing up as an Asian American, I often struggle to identify my own cultural identity. Being the first generation of both my mother and father’s side of the family, I more than often get confused between American and Asian culture when applying them to society or at home. While being raised at home, I am largely influenced by culture and traditions from Asian parents and relatives. However, when I go to school or someplace else, I am heavily judged for practicing part of my Asian culture because it is entirely different than western or American. With that being noted, I began to learn and adapt to the western culture in hopes of fitting with society as well of trying to keep my Asian culture intact. As can be seen, this situation I dealt with is the same problem the whole Asian American community faces. Mainly focusing on younger generations like me for example, the Asian American community struggles to adapt to the western culture because they were raised with an Asian influence. Wishing to fit in society and be part of the social norms, the Asian Americans community faces issues that identify their cultural identity.

     The focus of our group project is on Chinese Americans. We studied various aspects of their lives and the preservation of their culture in America. The Chinese American population is continually growing. In fact, in 1990, they were the largest group of Asians in the United States (Min 58). But living in America and adjusting to a new way of life is not easy. Many Chinese Americans have faced and continue to face much conflict between their Chinese and American identities. But many times, as they adapt to this new life, they are also able to preserve their Chinese culture and identity through various ways. We studied these things through the viewing of a movie called Joy Luck Club,

Whilst if I was in China, I would be focused on education, and preparing for my future job, and then focusing on how I am going to live the rest of my life. In relation, when I was younger, I was taken to a private preschool and Kindergarten, in hopes that I am able to build a stronger foundation for when I enter the first grade. As I grew older, and first grade came near, my family moved from one city to another to enroll me in a better elementary school. From this, part of my educational background grew. Throughout the years, we would fly to China to visit family and I was then exposed to the different cultures and was able to compare the living standards and cultural aspects between the United States and China. Consequently, my mom’s side is Tai-Shan and my dad’s side is Shanghainese. On my mom’s side, I have ancestors from Guangzhou, Tai-Shan, Beijing, and Hong Kong. On my dad’s side, I have ancestors from Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong as well. I know that these cities are all within China and have rigorous living conditions, intense education systems, and a place where money is everything. From this, I can say that this does influence my identity, as I am exposed to these cultures and ideas quite often. Being Chinese, and the first generation to be here in the United States, my parents are still quite traditional. Through that, the idea of who I am is influenced and altered, because there are ideas that I

In today’s society, the words “education” and a “better life” fit hand and hand with the other. The desire to create a higher quality lifestyle and the thirst for knowledge is a recurring theme in The Achievement of Desire. Much like Richard Rodriguez, my parents were not native to America and therefore, learning a new language and adapting to the culture was an indefinite struggle. Growing up, many Americans perceived my family and I as “too Chinese” and in the eyes of the Chinese, I was “too American”; this concept was only intensified after my trip to China in 2011. The addition of Western-style education in the household of a second generation American family unintentionally alienates the family members who participate in the schooling

First of all, every little detail is necessary for a job applicant. The interviewer has to select specific questions in order to find the best applicant for the job.

Churches and religious sites across China became a unifying force for discussion and connections. The foundations of Chinese culture had been stripped away leaving people alone and confused. An personal example in “The Souls of China” that truly exemplifies what religion means to the people of China is the explanation from Wang Yi. Growing up in the Chinese countryside, Wang Yi had little education and money. Wang Yi recounts a group of ants stuck in the rain away from their home, and decides to carry them home over the water. He describes the sensation he got from this action saying “I felt like their savior…I was only seven years old but felt I had done something really meaningful.” (341). After giving hi sermon, Wang Yi asks the Christians

My mother immigrated to Los Angeles from Taiwan when she was seventeen years old. Her parents emigrated from China to Taiwan for a better life before she was born. Even though I’m only half-Chinese…and a Chinese-American at that, Chinatown and Chinese culture are very much a part of my life. Eating Dim Sum- (a Cantonese specialty prepared in small portions carried over in small steamed baskets)— was a family tradition every Sunday. Chinese holidays were taken very seriously, and I always loved receiving hóngbāo, red envelopes filled with money during certain holidays. My mother made sure that she spoke Chinese to me as a baby,

After the first time I saw this movie, everything seems to be confusing. In order to understand this film further, I did some research. After I finished researching, everything seems to be clear. There are two main symbols in the movie. One symbol is China town; another one is water.

Though I’ve spent nearly half of my life growing up in China and soon immigrated to Canada, my travels outside of the two countries have been limited, mostly due to financial drawbacks. The opportunity to pay Western tuition while abroad has been a major reason for my decision to embark on a global exchange experience. Spending my pre-teen years and on in Canada, I saw how valuable my early experiences from China were, even at a young age; my unique standpoint resulted from both cultural influences allowed me to shape my identity in an empathetic and accepting way, otherwise impossible without firsthand experience. Hence, though I recognize my privileges, my lack of endeavors outside the country feel dissatisfying and limiting, and my viewpoints seem to rest under a

It took me years before I was able to fit in to this society completely; however, unlike other young first generation immigrants, I still held on to my Chinese background. I spoke Chinese at home and stayed in contact with families and friends from China. I was like any other Chinese teenagers. I listened to Chinese music, read Chinese books, and watched Chinese movies. I also enjoyed eating home cooked Chinese dishes. I was also like any other American teenagers. I listened to western music, read English books, and watched American movies. At school, I ate hamburgers and fries and at restaurants, I ordered pastas and

The geographical area of China is more than 9 million square kilometers and as a result, it is the fourth largest country in the world. There are several ethnic groups in China, the Han Chinese is the largest group, and it is found in almost all parts of the country. Other minority groups include Tibetan, Zhuang, Korean, and Mongol. The Chinese society is high context and non-verbal. The Chinese people acquire the knowledge of what they are supposed to do and say even if they are not told through conversation. Voice and facial expressions play a critical role in determining the feelings in a person. They do not have facial expressions when in a conversation. Direct eye contact is avoided because it is viewed as a symbol of disrespect (Clair & Norris, 2011).

Chinese families are highly misunderstood and stereotyped in the United States. It is important to understand a different culture before one makes the assumptions produced by these stereotypes. In order to find a better understanding about Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans, one must do research on that countries heritage, traditions, and other customs before submerging one-self into a Chinese families home. I chose to experience and observe a Chinese family who was kind enough to let me be a guest in their home to share dinner.

A survey of Shanghai’s nightlife demonstrates a sociological dichotomy, both in economic and social hierarchical aspects. In recent decades of progressive economic and social change in China, social inequality and class division have deepened in the rise of the sex industry, primarily prostitution. Among the fastest-growing industries in modern China, from the world of electronics to global exports of technology, prostitution is among China’s thriving economic industries. An observant 10-minute walk through any Chinese city guarantees an encounter of China’s active sex trade in some subtle disguise. Prostitutes in China are employed in even state owned hotels, they walk the streets, and service in clubs, bars, massage parlors, sauna houses, barber shops, beauty salons, and even buzzing karaoke buildings.