The corruption of the notorious Wang family name caused by Mei Oi’s deceitful actions towards her husband, Ben Loy, truly demonstrates the ultimate Chinese priority and major concern of defending ones own pride in his or her family name. Dignity in a persons family name is of very large importance. Rather than seeing Chinatown as a city in New York we get the feel that it is not only its own community but its own society. The Chinese culture tends to present itself focused mainly on its reputation and appearance in a tightly knit community. In Wayne Wang’s Eat a Bowl of Tea (1989), the first section of the film ends with an extravagant wedding.
Chinese rulers started to isolate themselves for other countries in order to stop westernization and promote their former cultures and traditions. Trade was then limited and technology didn’t become more advanced, therefore changing the success of their economy. Advances in technologies promoted trade with other countries and with far away societies. Maritime traded provided the Chinese economy the ability to trade with local societies easier and farther away countries faster. During the Sui dynasty, the Grand Canal was built and it was a waterway that connected Northern china to Southern China.
The problem is mainly focused on Asian American men and not as much women because of their higher rates. The Bloomberg Administration noticed this and has since tried even harder to make a change. The department has tried to appeal even more to Asian American smokers by campaigning and producing ads in the Chinese language, as well as offering translated versions of their campaigns in the news. The department campaigns annually for this cause and even distributed nicotine patches and offers a specific number for Chinese speakers to call and enroll in an anti-smoking program. The big question though is why is this a problem for Asian Americans and why is it important?
It had a strong and peaceful government during the Qing Empire and imperial powers such as Britain and the U.S. were interested in Chinese goods. By the late 1700s, however, China was experiencing internal strains with the population and with the government (columbia.edu). China had often looked down on foreigners and did not accept their cultures, but in 1793, the Chinese emperor agreed to meet with an English ambassador. The ambassador brought with him modern gadgets of that time such as clocks and instruments (Beck 371). The emperor was not interested and then the British realized they would have to find a product to trade with China so they could balance out the trading with China; that product was opium (Beck 371).
These factors include campaigning groups such as the Anti-Saloon league and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, post-war tension, industries and religious groups. When the First World War broke out in 18914, 19 states had already passed prohibition legislation. The government during this period had passed into a stage of “progressivism”, they now believed that it was their responsibility to resolve social problems. This progressive feeling led them to control morality in the cities and to improve society. In their eyes introducing prohibition could decrease the levels of prostitution, gambling and crime in the cities .The war provided prohibitionists with more ammunition to support their cause.
The image of Progressivism was depicted through second-generation Chinese American women were influenced by Chinese nationalism and Christianity in adapting to Western traditions. Local Chinese organizations consistently reminded women to vote. "It is the ballot that will win political rights-and economic opportunities- for the future of American citizens of Chinese ancestry in the United States (uf162)." American women benefited from feminist campaigns for equal pay, vast career choices and gained an improved image for themselves. The 1970s saw a boost in the status of Chinese American women and their participation in community and politics.
Seeking a change as they envisioned America as country thriving with many different opportunities. For these immigrants it was a chance at a better life, not only for themselves, but also for their children. Through immigration America been built into this big nation with varies ethnic, cultural, religious and economic identities. In Chung’s poetry, the author expresses her feeling that Chinese immigrants come to America in search of labor, as a result proving to be hard, diligent workers, and think of themselves as “Chinese Warriors.” “They study the martial arts, practice calligraphy, consult the I Ching and go to sword flicks to blow their
At first it was a separation between the Whites and the Asian minorities (Padgett n.d.). By the 1900s it was used to justify the discrimination and wars between other Asian countries; throughout 1947 to the 1970s the Asian stereotype “model minority” was publicized to obtain citizenship for some residences in the Japanese and Chinese communities without a permanent residency in America (Nakagawa 2014). In 1965 the restrictive laws for immigrants entering from Asian countries were amended and passageway into America was an easier process (Washington 2012). Due to the publicity the “model minority” received back then, many people’s perception of an Asian were based on the characteristics often portrayed by mainstream media, even in modern day media (Zhang 2010). To enter an Ivy League school Asian-Americans have to stand out amongst the other academically excellent students, therefor they are placed in a more competitive environment and are expected to excel in extracurricular activities.
Immigration has left cultural footprints that have shaped American culture to what it is today and what it could be in the future. As ethnic groups migrated to America in search of the “American Dream”, different languages, ethnic cultures, work ethics, different cultural norms, family values, education levels, etc, began to be assimilated into the dominant culture. This has led to changes in the way in which American businesses have become culturally diverse from a national and international perspective. Many of these changes did not occur immediately because corporate boards were still reluctant to accept women and minority candidates on the board of directors. In order to force the hand of American businesses for fair and equal treatment of women and minorities, Affirmative Action and EEO laws were passed to correct the present effects of
Many of the immigrants from China that arrived in America came as refugees. In 1946, The War Brides Act was passed allowing Chinese Americans who fought in the war to bring their wives to America. Slowly, these immigrants began to create ethnic communities in which they could feel comfortable to live in, hence the creation of China Town. These immigrants have introduced their culture into American culture through the creation of restaurants, religious institutions, and holidays such as Chinese New Year. The creations of these institutions prove that this immigrant group is able to sustain the cultural practices from their country of origin.