Understanding American Born Stereotypes American Born Chinese is very educational when it comes to Chinese stereotypes in every reader. Stereotypes affect the characters in American Born Chinese in a negative manner. According to Google stereotypes are a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. Gene Luen Yang is the author of the book who is an asian-american who was inspired to make American Born Chinese from his own experiences of stereotypes that he suffered from the world. The novel has to do with modern stereotypes toward chinese which makes the characters want to change their own identity to be accepted. Throughout the story, Gene Yang shows that stereotypes in our modern day
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Jin Wang” (30). “He and his family recently moved to our neighborhood all the way from China! San Francisco” (30). Jin soon faces some stereotypes from his classmates, “My Momma says Chinese people eat dogs. Now be nice, Timmy! I’m sure Jin doesn’t do that! In fact, Jin’s family probably stopped that sort of thing as soon as they came to the United States” (31). There was only one other Asian in his class and her name is Suzy Nakamura. Since they both are Asian people at the school associated them as a unit, “When the class finally figured out that we weren’t related, rumors began to circulate that Suzy and I were arranged to be married on her thirteenth birthday. We avoid each other as much as possible” (31). The fact that he has to avoid the only person that has the same heritage as him is mortifying. Still on his adventure at school he had undergone more stereotypes “ What the hell is that?! Dumplings. Hmpt. Stay away from my dog” (32). “ [...] leave bucktooth alone so he can enjoy Lassie” (33). When Jin got older he fell in love with his classmate Amelia. They soon went on a date to the movies and Jin still thought he wasn’t good enough for her. There is a white male who tells Jin that he isn’t good for Amelia, “Can you not ask Amelia out again” (170). He doesn’t ‘think Jin is good enough for Amelia because of his race. This makes Jin blindly change who he is. “It’s easy to become anything you wish... so long as you’re willing to forfeit your soul” (29). This quote is a perfect example of foreshadowing for this is exactly what Jin soon does. “Now what would you like to become” (194). At this point in time Jin changes who he is to almost the exact same features of the kid who told him he isn’t good enough for Amelia. He literally changed who he was into a caucasian with blond
Jin Wang” (30). “He and his family recently moved to our neighborhood all the way from China! San Francisco” (30). Jin soon faces some stereotypes from his classmates, “My Momma says Chinese people eat dogs. Now be nice, Timmy! I’m sure Jin doesn’t do that! In fact, Jin’s family probably stopped that sort of thing as soon as they came to the United States” (31). There was only one other Asian in his class and her name is Suzy Nakamura. Since they both are Asian people at the school associated them as a unit, “When the class finally figured out that we weren’t related, rumors began to circulate that Suzy and I were arranged to be married on her thirteenth birthday. We avoid each other as much as possible” (31). The fact that he has to avoid the only person that has the same heritage as him is mortifying. Still on his adventure at school he had undergone more stereotypes “ What the hell is that?! Dumplings. Hmpt. Stay away from my dog” (32). “ [...] leave bucktooth alone so he can enjoy Lassie” (33). When Jin got older he fell in love with his classmate Amelia. They soon went on a date to the movies and Jin still thought he wasn’t good enough for her. There is a white male who tells Jin that he isn’t good for Amelia, “Can you not ask Amelia out again” (170). He doesn’t ‘think Jin is good enough for Amelia because of his race. This makes Jin blindly change who he is. “It’s easy to become anything you wish... so long as you’re willing to forfeit your soul” (29). This quote is a perfect example of foreshadowing for this is exactly what Jin soon does. “Now what would you like to become” (194). At this point in time Jin changes who he is to almost the exact same features of the kid who told him he isn’t good enough for Amelia. He literally changed who he was into a caucasian with blond