What is the purpose of the struggle to be an All-American Girl?
In Elizabeth Wong’s story, The Struggle to Be an All-American Girl, she reveals denial and shame towards her parent’s culture to illuminate the importance of having multiple cultures in a person’s life.
What does the narrator’s view of her native Chinese culture reveal about her view of American culture?
The narrator seems to view American culture as superior to her Chinese culture. To her, the Chinese culture and language is too common and lacked the beauty and refinement of other languages like French and English.
Who is the audience in the struggle to be an all-American girl?
The narrator’s audience seems to be the American people since she wants so desperately to be like Americans throughout the selection and states at the end that “At last, I was one of you; I wasn’t one of them” (Wong 139).
When was the struggle to be an All-American Girl written?
1990
Elizabeth Wong is a Chinese American playwright that wrote “The Struggle to Be an All-American Girl” originally published in the Los Angeles Times in 1990.
How has literature of America changed over time?
American Literature has changed over time by adapting previous values, beliefs, and literary characteristics when a new era presents itself; this progression is due to changing societal views in…show more content… Throughout this time period American literature shifts from American foundation into American development.
When June May arrives in Guangzhou What are some details that seem familiar to her?
Some things that are familiar to her is the crowded area within the building. Some of the exotic things to June May was the aspect that she looked like everybody else but was taller then everybody else. June May compares China to America, because she believes that she is an every average day American and not Chinese.
What is the conflict in the struggle to be an All American Girl?
conflict. She hates her chinese classes. She can’t hang out with friends after school. She want to give up on her culture.
What does Elizabeth Wong think of the Chinese language?
She and her brother both hated going to Chinese school and felt embarrassed by the language spoken by Chinese relatives. The children were fanatical about speaking only proper English. Wong is really glad when she gets a cultural divorce and no longer has to study Chinese (30-31).
Why is June May so preoccupied with comparing China to America?
Why is she so preoccupied with comparing China to America? June May compares China to America, because she believes that she is an every average day American and not Chinese. June May says that she could never pass for true Chinese”, yet by the end of the story she has discovered “what part of me is Chinese”.
What does the phrase true Chinese seem to mean to her?
When she feels she cannot “pass for true Chinese,” she means that her life in America disconnected her from her Chinese roots. That part of her identity was sublimated as she assimilated into American culture, went to American schools, and spoke English all her life.