Maxine Hong Kingston finds it hard to live in America as the daughter of Chinese emigrants because there are two different expectations of her. She criticizes the patriarchal society of both the United States and China that she is caught between:
Once I get outside the house, what bird might call me; on what horse could I ride away? Marriage and childbirth strengthen the swordswoman, who is not a maid like Joan of Arc. Do the women’s work; then do more work, which will become ours too. [...] Nobody supports me at the expense of his own adventure. That I am not a burden has to compensate for the sad envy when I look at women loved enough to be supported. Even now China wraps double bound around my feet. (Hong Kingston 48)
Both societies expect
Once I get outside the house, what bird might call me; on what horse could I ride away? Marriage and childbirth strengthen the swordswoman, who is not a maid like Joan of Arc. Do the women’s work; then do more work, which will become ours too. [...] Nobody supports me at the expense of his own adventure. That I am not a burden has to compensate for the sad envy when I look at women loved enough to be supported. Even now China wraps double bound around my feet. (Hong Kingston 48)
Both societies expect