Independence

In Kingston’s The Woman Warrior, Kingston frequently brings up the topic of femininity in both Chinese culture as well as Chinese American culture.  Similarly in both cultures women were not granted the freedom and independence that most women have in American culture today.  Chinese American women that were first generations stuck more closely to tradition Chinese social roles compared to those of later generations.  A prime example of that in the novel is the speaker’s mother, Brave Orchid.  Brave Orchid lived the life of a traditional Chinese women even while in America, for the most part.  Where Brave Orchid diverges from the traditional Chinese female life style was when she was granted the opportunity to study medicine for two years while her husband was away in America setting up for the family to immigrate later.  During Brave Orchid’s two years of medical study she was given the unique experience of independence and freedom for the first and only time in her life.  For the first time she was able to follow only her own schedule and when she “shut the door at the end of the workday, [it] does not spill over into the evening” (62).  Brave Orchid got to live out what other Chinese women saw as the “daydream [of] a carefree life” and experienced “what [all women] really wanted: a job and room of their own” (62).  Granted, Brave Orchid actually shared a room with several other women and was studying rather than working, but nonetheless she could follow her own schedule and not worry about the demands of others for the first time.  Brave Orchid received both the gift of education as well as the gift of freedom.  It is curious to note that the only other time in Brave Orchid’s life when she achieves some sort of freedom and independence she rejects it.  In Brave Orchid’s old age her children have grown up and fled the nest leaving her once again in the realm of carefree independence (excluding her husband) yet she seems to be unhappy this time around; “how can I bear to have you leave me again” (100).  The change in Brave Orchid’s views on independence could be considered a product of “empty nesting” syndrome, but regardless it is interesting to note how much her view on freedom varies based on the time in her life.  This Chinese woman used to cherish her time alone, yet with old age she seems to shudder at the thought of it.