Stigmas In The Joy Luck Club

Cultural stigmas have not only a virulent effect on society, but also give society its ingenuity and uniqueness. This is due to their contributions to society, especially to groups of people who suffer from these stigmas. So, not only are societies unique because of these stigmas, but they also motivate those who are repressed and development complexity in the society. Cultural themes of China are a prime example of this, specifically, the theme that women are supposedly inferior to men in everyday situations. The Joy Luck Club insinuates that women are repressed in speech and action. While Americans view this as a stigma, however, the inferiority of women is justified and considered a norm in Chinese culture. In essence, feminism is existent in The Joy Luck Club in the cultural influence that the mothers have on their daughters. Ironically, in an attempt to cultivate …show more content…
Without this role, a plethora of negative consequences, such as a house becoming disorderly, will occur. The only controversy over this belief is the question as to why, specifically, women should take on this role and not men. Despite her situation, Lindo Jong was accustomed to this role, saying "What was more satisfying than having Huang Taitai nod and pat my head when I finished combing her hair" (56), as if she enjoyed the role. It can be inferred that Taitai acknowledged her importance in the house, not only as the wife of her son, but as a quintessential housekeeper. However, if the importance of housekeeping is not empowering, then the feeling of freedom, trapped by years of oppression, is. Jong revisits that feeling later in her life by saying "how nice it is to be that girl again...to see what is underneath and feel the lightness come back into my body" (66). This societal gender role plays an essential part of building up the resilience that Jong wants to bestow to her