Kingston’s struggles to find her voice are inflicted by the very community she is fostered in. In The Woman Warrior’s last chapter, "A Song for a Barbarian Reed Pipe," Kingston brings forth her own search for a personal, individualized voice. Since at a young age, Kingston is taught by her mother that traditional Chinese society favors silent, obedient women. Even amongst her peers at school, disciplined, polite females were equally expected to be quiet. Therefore, in order to assimilate herself into the American culture, Kingston descends to silence. However, her attempt to become “American-feminine” was futile; in fact, Kingston becomes one of many Chinese-American girls who whispered “... more softly than the Americans” (172). As a result,
