The idea for this one came along while I read Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok. I read this book a while ago, I think at least 5 years ago, when it came up as a recommendation on Goodreads. I'm pretty sure it was recommended because I read Amy Chua's autobiography, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Anyway, reading Jean Kwok's novel made me think about the Chinese migrants that moved to the United States over the last couple centuries, especially around the time Japan invaded China and then when China turned into a communist country. It was around this time America passed the Magnuson Act in 1943, as a result of China becoming an ally to America, repealing the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882.
When I read Jean Kwok's novel, I learnt that a lot of the Chinese migrants who moved to America in the 20th century were actually illegal immigrants. The novel itself doesn't say what year it is, but based on the fact that having phones was a commonality and the main character, Kimberly, has the option of having an abortion, my guess is that the novel begins around the 80's, which makes sense, since it was the third wave of Chinese immigration - specifically of undocumented persons. Anyway, that's besides the point of this novel. The point is that the 20th century noted a ton of movement of migrants escaping persecution and oppression in China towards North America. Yeah it took me this long to point that out. I've been doing too many reviews. Oops.
From what research I have done on the topic, both legal and illegal immigration of Chinese people came in waves throughout the 20th century depending on what the threat was. There were waves during the 19th century, which caused some problems morally on American society - the Chinese were starting to become associated with opium use and prostitution. This led to the Chinese Exclusion Act to stop future Chinese immigrants, legal or not. However, during the Second World War, two years after China became an ally to the United States, the Magnuson Act was passed to allow some Chinese immigrants into the country as well as allow the Chinese who were already in America to become naturalised citizens. Fast-forward to the 1960s: a new influx of Chinese immigrants but a number of these ones were from Hong Kong and Taiwan, heavily cosmopolitan and capitalist cities. The Chinese communities in America started to change. Thanks to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, there was no longer a barrier of entry based on racial discrimination. These new immigrants had more exposure to the latest fashion trends and music. Many had degrees and were professional workers. In changing the social mobility structures within Chinese communities, these groups started to adapt and assimilate within American society.
Because many of these immigrants had to learn how to assimilate, those who could studied at universities, which were havens of intercultural dialogue. Universities were the best place for people to improve their social mobility while earning qualifications. As a result, this generation developed a very harsh view of parenting when their children came along. It wasn't even just the Chinese who developed this trait; a number of immigrant families from all over the world did too. I read an article in the New York Times about this very issue. The writer, Ryan Park, noted, "Like my parents, many of these new arrivals brought two cultural values that would carry their children far: a near-religious devotion to education as the key to social mobility and a belief that academic achievement depends mostly on effort rather than inborn ability." These children, the second generation, would be subject to extremely frugal lifestyles and harsh punishments if they dared to achieve anything less than an "A" grade. Amy Chua wrote a number of chapters about how her parents - the immigrant generation - treated her and her 3 younger sisters:
"The immigrant generation (like my parents) is the hardest-working. Many will have started off in the United States almost penniless, but they will work nonstop until they become successful engineers, scientists, doctors, academics, or businesspeople. As parents, they will be extremely strict and rabidly thrifty. ("Don't throw out those leftovers! Why are you using so much dishwasher liquid? You don't need a beauty salon - I can cut your hair even nice.") They will invest in real estate. They will not drink much. Everything they do and earn will go toward their children's education and future."
The trade-off was clear. The immigrant generation, the most diligent, will work extremely hard to make sure they have enough to provide for their children, and they will ensure they do have enough to pay for everything as their children grow up. They will essentially provide every necessity until the children graduate from university. However, the second generation will be expected to pay this back by achieving only the highest possible scores to study at and graduate from an Ivy League university. Not only that, to repay the service their parents provided for them throughout their childhood, the second generation would be expected to take in their parents out of filial piety when their parents are no longer able to work or live independently. "What about their happiness?" you might ask. Ryan Park's article answers this question: "The traditional Asian parenting model is, in theory at least, premised on imposing pain now to reap meritocratic rewards later. For much of my life, I accepted this premise and assumed there must be a trade-off between inculcating academic success and happiness." No doubt the immigrant generation were successful. A large proportion of successful lawyers, doctors, bankers and businesspeople were Asian. The wage disparity demonstrated a higher income bracket among Asians compared to every other ethnic group.
Because happiness was not a concept to be incorporated into parenting styles among the immigrant generation, this led to the second generation raising their children differently. Amy Chua, the famed "Tiger Mother," believes it is because the third generation will have grown up in the luxury of being middle-class and they will be more likely to identify as American with American values, viewing the immigrant way as cruelty. I think it is more of because parents who grew up under immigrant parents might have developed an inner hatred for the way they were raised. They will still love their parents, no doubt, for providing them with every possible tool to succeed, but they will want their children to have a different life. The evolution of developmental psychology may also have something to do with this. The American Psychological Association wrote about how children of "tiger parents" were more susceptible to depressive symptoms. New York University psychologist Niobe Way recently interviewed several Chinese mothers, and found that these mothers are proof of a changing parenting style within Asian families; these mothers "encouraged their children to be independent and well-socialised as much as they encouraged them to do well in school." (Chamberlin, 2013) Personally, I think socialisation in today's society is a little...overrated. The advent of smart technology has caused a decline in social skills, and if socialisation means letting kids stare at a screen playing a Playstation for hours without even talking to each other, then I've got bigger issues than socialisation. I mean, if we could go back about 20 odd years, then sure, socialisation's key. It's a bit worrying when I can walk into a classroom filled with 7-year olds and they're all using iPads in class.
No doubt the Chinese immigrant generation of the first 60 years of the 20th century had much to contribute to society. They instilled a disciplined attitude towards improving oneself, not just in themselves but also in their children. But it was dangerous. We are already seeing the mental cracks in the second generation. People are finally willing to admit that they are not capable of feeling "happy" unless there was some academic or career achievement in the process. Enjoying life is a foreign concept for these groups. Yet the third generation is viewed as spoiled and entitled, and discipline is a foreign concept for them. What is the middle ground? I hope the next generation will be just that.
When I read Jean Kwok's novel, I learnt that a lot of the Chinese migrants who moved to America in the 20th century were actually illegal immigrants. The novel itself doesn't say what year it is, but based on the fact that having phones was a commonality and the main character, Kimberly, has the option of having an abortion, my guess is that the novel begins around the 80's, which makes sense, since it was the third wave of Chinese immigration - specifically of undocumented persons. Anyway, that's besides the point of this novel. The point is that the 20th century noted a ton of movement of migrants escaping persecution and oppression in China towards North America. Yeah it took me this long to point that out. I've been doing too many reviews. Oops.
From what research I have done on the topic, both legal and illegal immigration of Chinese people came in waves throughout the 20th century depending on what the threat was. There were waves during the 19th century, which caused some problems morally on American society - the Chinese were starting to become associated with opium use and prostitution. This led to the Chinese Exclusion Act to stop future Chinese immigrants, legal or not. However, during the Second World War, two years after China became an ally to the United States, the Magnuson Act was passed to allow some Chinese immigrants into the country as well as allow the Chinese who were already in America to become naturalised citizens. Fast-forward to the 1960s: a new influx of Chinese immigrants but a number of these ones were from Hong Kong and Taiwan, heavily cosmopolitan and capitalist cities. The Chinese communities in America started to change. Thanks to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, there was no longer a barrier of entry based on racial discrimination. These new immigrants had more exposure to the latest fashion trends and music. Many had degrees and were professional workers. In changing the social mobility structures within Chinese communities, these groups started to adapt and assimilate within American society.
Because many of these immigrants had to learn how to assimilate, those who could studied at universities, which were havens of intercultural dialogue. Universities were the best place for people to improve their social mobility while earning qualifications. As a result, this generation developed a very harsh view of parenting when their children came along. It wasn't even just the Chinese who developed this trait; a number of immigrant families from all over the world did too. I read an article in the New York Times about this very issue. The writer, Ryan Park, noted, "Like my parents, many of these new arrivals brought two cultural values that would carry their children far: a near-religious devotion to education as the key to social mobility and a belief that academic achievement depends mostly on effort rather than inborn ability." These children, the second generation, would be subject to extremely frugal lifestyles and harsh punishments if they dared to achieve anything less than an "A" grade. Amy Chua wrote a number of chapters about how her parents - the immigrant generation - treated her and her 3 younger sisters:
"The immigrant generation (like my parents) is the hardest-working. Many will have started off in the United States almost penniless, but they will work nonstop until they become successful engineers, scientists, doctors, academics, or businesspeople. As parents, they will be extremely strict and rabidly thrifty. ("Don't throw out those leftovers! Why are you using so much dishwasher liquid? You don't need a beauty salon - I can cut your hair even nice.") They will invest in real estate. They will not drink much. Everything they do and earn will go toward their children's education and future."
The trade-off was clear. The immigrant generation, the most diligent, will work extremely hard to make sure they have enough to provide for their children, and they will ensure they do have enough to pay for everything as their children grow up. They will essentially provide every necessity until the children graduate from university. However, the second generation will be expected to pay this back by achieving only the highest possible scores to study at and graduate from an Ivy League university. Not only that, to repay the service their parents provided for them throughout their childhood, the second generation would be expected to take in their parents out of filial piety when their parents are no longer able to work or live independently. "What about their happiness?" you might ask. Ryan Park's article answers this question: "The traditional Asian parenting model is, in theory at least, premised on imposing pain now to reap meritocratic rewards later. For much of my life, I accepted this premise and assumed there must be a trade-off between inculcating academic success and happiness." No doubt the immigrant generation were successful. A large proportion of successful lawyers, doctors, bankers and businesspeople were Asian. The wage disparity demonstrated a higher income bracket among Asians compared to every other ethnic group.
Because happiness was not a concept to be incorporated into parenting styles among the immigrant generation, this led to the second generation raising their children differently. Amy Chua, the famed "Tiger Mother," believes it is because the third generation will have grown up in the luxury of being middle-class and they will be more likely to identify as American with American values, viewing the immigrant way as cruelty. I think it is more of because parents who grew up under immigrant parents might have developed an inner hatred for the way they were raised. They will still love their parents, no doubt, for providing them with every possible tool to succeed, but they will want their children to have a different life. The evolution of developmental psychology may also have something to do with this. The American Psychological Association wrote about how children of "tiger parents" were more susceptible to depressive symptoms. New York University psychologist Niobe Way recently interviewed several Chinese mothers, and found that these mothers are proof of a changing parenting style within Asian families; these mothers "encouraged their children to be independent and well-socialised as much as they encouraged them to do well in school." (Chamberlin, 2013) Personally, I think socialisation in today's society is a little...overrated. The advent of smart technology has caused a decline in social skills, and if socialisation means letting kids stare at a screen playing a Playstation for hours without even talking to each other, then I've got bigger issues than socialisation. I mean, if we could go back about 20 odd years, then sure, socialisation's key. It's a bit worrying when I can walk into a classroom filled with 7-year olds and they're all using iPads in class.
No doubt the Chinese immigrant generation of the first 60 years of the 20th century had much to contribute to society. They instilled a disciplined attitude towards improving oneself, not just in themselves but also in their children. But it was dangerous. We are already seeing the mental cracks in the second generation. People are finally willing to admit that they are not capable of feeling "happy" unless there was some academic or career achievement in the process. Enjoying life is a foreign concept for these groups. Yet the third generation is viewed as spoiled and entitled, and discipline is a foreign concept for them. What is the middle ground? I hope the next generation will be just that.
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