Policarpio, Vea Jane A.

ARTS 1 – E1 (1:00 – 2:30 TTh)

“No Name Woman”

By Maxine Hong Kingston

Different culture necessities can affect one’s identity. In this story,

Kingston became investigative about her aunt’s life tragedy and experience

that her mom told her. Her mother made sure that this story should not be

expose or be told to anyone. She gave scenarios inside the Chinese

culture that might be one of the reasons why her aunt committed suicide

and why her family abandoned her. She also indicated in the story the

difference of gender roles between men and women.

Her aunt’s story seemed to be a warning since her mother told

her the story, at the time when her menstruation started. The story was told

to teach her a lesson because her mother doesn’t want her to experience

the tragedy that happened to her aunt and she doesn’t want anyone to ruin

the family’s reputation again.

Because of Kingston’s curiosity she decided to retell her Aunt’s

story in a different way that includes the Chinese culture. Sons were

important since they would acquire the family name while daughters were
just given, mortgage or sold away to the in-laws. Men can be barbarians or

rebel against the tradition and do what they want while women where

expected to maintain the tradition and stay at home.

Being born as a Chinese and raised in America gave her difficulty.

Its like having two different cultures in one body. It can give confusion on

which should be followed or listened to. There were actions acceptable for

the American culture that cannot be easily accepted by the Chinese

culture. Just like when her aunt committed adultery. Since she gave shame

and ruined the family’s name because of the adultery she committed she

was abandoned and left behind by the family. While on the American

culture, committing adultery will not highly affect or ruin you and your

family’s reputation. But then, adultery is still a shaming act on both cultures.

So, we should always be mindful with our acts.