




Since the beginning of different societies and cultures being formed, men have always seemed to be considered superior to women. Every culture treats women differently. Whether it be American, Islamic, Chinese, Indian or any culture, each one holds women at a different level of importance. Women are expected to do one thing while men are expected to do other things. Multiple societies expect women to conform to specific standards and ways of life, possibly out casting them for not doing so. Societies also handle actions of the man and woman differently from marriage, to work, to dress and even crimes. By looking at the first chapter of “The Woman Warrior” by Maxine Kingston, it is easy to see how another culture or society can be so different; it’s easy to see how the world can shape an individual as a person so negatively or so positively. The narrator and family in “The Woman Warrior” are of Chinese culture which is considerably different in comparison to a possible reader’s own culture. In order to truly understand the narrator’s emotions and point in telling the story of her aunt, it is crucial to have an understanding of the history of China and an understanding of their culture. In first reading the chapter it is confusing as to why Kingston would include the story of her aunt. However, the whole novel is an autobiography. Therefore, by looking at the details in this first chapter, it is easy to see her emotion, meaning and self by the end. Despite Kingston’s first chapter not being about herself, by little details, it can be confirmed that the narrator sees herself in her aunt and it can also be seen that Kingston references societies treatment to her aunt, shaping herself as a person. Kingston even writes this story in a way it is relatable to all women in the world; women’s rights and treatment have been controversial issues for many years. By looking at and understanding past and present Chinese culture and Chinese history, one can see why the details of her aunt’s treatment, even other women, and society have shaped her as a person and why Kingston chose to include this story in her autobiography. 

Globally, every country has different views on things such as politics, race, education and even women. These controversial issues are why society is torn apart and why, like in Kingston’s first chapter, families can be torn apart too. In China, women were held to many standards. It wasn’t until many, many years passed that women began to gain rights. Women were expected to be submissive and listen to everything they were told, comparable to a good child; “The Chinese character for female consists of a pictograph representation of a person kneeling with hands folded, a pose seen as a form of submission.” (Fan 96). From stereotypical knowledge, males and females are designated certain styles and jobs and expectation the second they come out of the womb. Boys are wrapped in blue blankets while girls are wrapped in pink, and boys are given tool kits or cars to play with while girls are given baby dolls and kitchen sets. In China,

“At the age of seven, girls are supposed to be separated from boys in all the social activities – as the saying goes, male and female have separate spheres. A woman during her lifetime lives with two families – in her “uterine” and marital homes. A woman is thought to marry into her husband’s family, so the character female plus home conveys the word meaning marriage. After she is married she becomes a wife or a woman. This character consists of a female with a broom signifying submission and the duty to do housework; hence, it attests to a gender division labor.” (Fan 96)

The question is, if women don’t live up to these standards or conform to the ways of society will they always be outcast and torn apart like Kingston’s aunt? For many years in Chinese culture, there were multiple labels for women; 

“After she is married she becomes a wife or a woman. This character consists of a female with a broom signifying submission and the duty to housework; hence, it attests to a gender division of labor. Once married and under her husband’s roof, the wife’s condition is identified as being content. Three women together are up to something wicked and treacherous. A good capable wife is described as being successful because of the activities of domestic service” (Fan 96-97). 

Labels for women went on and on, lists for everything they did or could be labeled as. Not only were women labeled and expected to do as they are controlled but also from the age of seven, women were never taught the same way men were. Men in Chinese culture were able to think for themselves and act for themselves. Women on the other hand, “learned from childhood to perceive the world through the eyes of a man.” (Fan 98). Apparently, women were not qualified enough to do much in the world at this time. They perceived the world through the eyes of a man “because they were denied the opportunity to receive a formal education, they were seen as unqualified to participate in public service, especially in politics. Throughout Chinese history, women were considered bearers of trouble who would bring confusion and disorder to the political arena.” (Fan 98). A lot of women didn’t make choices for themselves, a man did. The government even strictly enforced a one child policy; not only were many women degraded and labeled, but it also can’t be any easier to a have a limit on the family one can build. Society is harsh, however, slowly but surely, things for women did change in Chinese culture. Although still being changed and debated, like many other cultures, change is progress. “From 1949-1979, there was only one magazine for women – “Women In China”. Now there are about a dozen.” (Jie 355). There are places that “carry articles about theories on women’s studies, analyses of surveys about psychological obstacles to women’s advancement, that causes of girls’ quitting school, modern women’s aesthetics, and the remnant feudalistic ideas in people’s minds. Books by famous women leaders in foreign countries have also been translated into Chinese. It is no exaggeration to say that Chinese women now have more access than ever before.” (Jie 355) Women in societies are still changing and the way they are being treated is changing but in order to understand a little more about why Kingston chose to use the story of her aunt, one also needed to know some Chinese culture and history. 

Kingston included this story in her autobiography because after many years, 20 years for herself but fifty years of neglect, she sees herself in her aunt and sees that as a woman you don’t have to be exactly what someone else wants you to be. Also, after looking into Chinese history and culture it is easy to read about it, learn about it but it is also easy to realize that people lived this way for a very long time. By looking at Chinese culture, the story of her aunt is more shaped and understandable. Some of the things Kingston talks about such as the raiding of her family’s home, the rape being disregarded or why she had no name the entire story is understood more with a little background knowledge on how women were raised and treated from the start of their life. Worldly knowledge is important to understand a lot of things in society; it should be even more prevalent today. There are little details in this story that an ordinary person reading may not understand that everything is true and can happen to women in Chinese culture. However, someone with world knowledge, someone who knows a little history about China and their ways can read this first chapter in a more shaped way. It becomes more understandable as to why Kingston uses this story. As a teenager she was confused and didn’t know what to think of her aunt. However, now older as she wrote this she saw herself in her aunt and probably sees her aunt in others. The story prevails to many audiences because it is a reality and knowledge of this culture and some history are important to know that. 

People are shaped by their society, their past and their present and sometimes things are hard to live down. Fifty or sixty years later Kingston’s aunt is still a disgrace and she still doesn’t know her name. Women in general are degraded and frowned upon for many things; things they do or don’t do, what they wear, who they date, or where they work. All cultures hold women at different levels but this first chapter of “The Woman Warrior” shows more about where and how China holds their women. Not only that, it also shows who Kingston is as a person; the reason why she uses this in her autobiography. The only missing piece if a reader sees this story and isn’t sure what to think, is Chinese history and culture. A little knowledge the culture goes a long way in how one interprets the story and changes how one reads the story. The history makes it easier to see why she includes the details she does, why she uses this story and why she inclined to use it. 




