Jean Kwok's Girl In Translation

607 Words3 Pages

Feminism is being independent, strong-willed, respectable, and a gender role opposer. Kimberly Chang, the main protagonist in Jean Kwok’s Girl In Translation, is a feminist in her own way. As Kim and her mother immigrate from China, Kim learns a lot about herself and her values. She learns from her hardships and aims to not live like that again. Being in a different culture means learning to adapt to their morals and values. Kimberly Chang is a feminist because she sets high educational goals for herself, spends extra time in the factory or tutoring, and opposes traditional gender roles. Kimberly Chang is a feminist because she sets high educational goals for herself. After Kim and her mother immigrate to America, she remembers her knack for school. She aims to get into a private school: “Maybe Harrison?” [Kim] asked. That was where Annette was going. Mrs. LaGuardia laughed. “Well, you do set your sights high…It’s a long shot.” (Kwok 99-100).
Once Kim makes it through Harrison Prep, she thinks about college. Her guidance counselor asks her where she would like to go to college; she, without a doubt, replies, “Yale” (245). Kimberly Chang is a feminist in the sense that she …show more content…

Her mother asks Kim to help her in the factory to finish all the work. Kim, wanting to help support her mother, selflessly says back to her mother: “ Of course, Ma. I always help you” (Kwok 20). Kim also put in extra hours tutoring during so she could help Ma in the factory after school: “I was actually paid for this time since my work was beyond what I was required to do for my scholarship. I made sure I only filled up some of my free time slots during the say so I could help Ma at the faculty as much as possible after school” (190). Along with helping Ma at the factory, Kim gave up her free time during the day to make extra money tutoring as to help her own college