Intersection of Race, Patriarchy and Imperialism in Amy Tan's The Kitchen God's Wife

Abstract

This thesis “Intersection of Race, Patriarchy and Imperialism in Amy Tan's The Kitchen God's Wife” is an study and interpretation of the novel from the perspective of feminism. In doing so, the thesis also touches upon how both imperialism and patriarchy are inimical to the freedom and expression of the female. Daughter accommodates to American values and life style as a revolt against patriarchy. In another words it comes as a revolt against the masculinist ideology of patriarchy represented by mother in particular and against Chinese patriarchy in general. In the novel, there are two parallel lines of story. One line of the story tells about the Japanese invasion of China, and the another line tells about how a Chinese woman is brutalized by her husband, a Chinese military person. The oppressor in both cases are the male ones, and the females are doubly oppressed. They are oppressed by the Chinese patriarchy at home, and also by the invading Japanese imperialism from outside. Thus the policy of imperialism and patriarchy are both unjust and inhuman institutions. Winne's revolt against her mother and cultural system she represented shows a women power which comes from the movements prepared by feminism in Europe and America.