Annotated Bibliography on articles concerning Sexuality and Gender Roles in Chinese-American
And Asian-Americans Community
Name:
Institution:
Abstract
This literature Review involves a discussion of the perception of sexuality and gender roles in Asian Americans and particularly in Chinese Americans. Asian American young adults and women, often live in a bicultural setting that brings about intrinsic conflict between their traditional heritage and the American way of life. This is especially true for second-generation Asian Americans living in the U.S. The American and Asian notions of expressing sexuality and gender roles are entirely different with Asian Americans opting for very subtle and non-expressive. Highly acculturated second-generation youth and women may find themselves adopting the American definition of gender roles. This paper, therefore, seeks to establish that there is a conflict between first and second generation Asian Americans and their perceptions of gender and sexuality.
Tong, Y. (2013, June 28). Acculturation, gender disparity, and the sexual behavior of Asian American youth. Journal of Sex Research, 50(6), 560-573.
According to this article, Asian Americans are a population that is characterized by a vast cultural, historical, demographical, and socioeconomic heterogeneity. However, this group also shares numerous Asian cultural attributes, for instance, the importance and the central role played by the family, emphases on social and moral codes of behavior, collective goals over individual wants, restraint and modesty in sexuality, and appropriating sexuality only in the marital context. The Chinese Americans being the largest Asian American group also shares these beliefs. This article compares sexuality in Chinese Americans relative to other U.S. ethnic groups on the major facets of sexual behavior. The report indicates that Chinese Americans adolescents and their Asian American counterparts initiate intercourse at a later age and are relatively sexually conservative than other ethnic groups in the U.S.
The article however also states, that despite Asian Americans displaying conservative attitudes towards sexuality, second-generation Chinese Americans or Asian Americans are not as conservative as their parents and other first-generation Asian Americans. This study suggests that these differences are caused by acculturation into the mainstream American culture. Therefore, the second generation Asian Americans attitudes on sexuality become more similar to the White-American norms. This article focuses on the effects of acculturation on Chinese American adolescents and concludes that acculturation results in the adoption of more liberal sexual patterns by second generation adolescents and young adults.
The article also links Asian American conservative predispositions to normative sexuality with the fact that Asian American women display reluctance in seeking sexual and reproductive health care which further predisposes them to higher risks due to the delays in treatment of cervical and breast cancers. Contrary to the sexual double standard theory, younger acculturated Asian American females are seen to display a faster commencement of intercourse and were involved with a more sexual partners than had been predicted.
Huang, J., Chen, E. C., & Ponterotto, J. G. (2016). Heterosexual Chinese Americans’ Experiences of Their Lesbian and Gay Sibling’s Coming Out. Asian American Journal of Psychology, VII (3), 147-158.
This article explores different occurrences concerning second-generation Chinese Americans with gay relations. The article mainly focuses on how the familial and sibling relationships evolved through time and how the traditional Chinese views were associated with their perspective on sexuality and in particular gay relations. The article emphasizes that the interplay of cultural beliefs on sexuality and gay and lesbian sexual orientation is precise in Chinese and most Asian cultures.
This article states that Chinese Americans hold dear the Asian norms of collectivism, filial piety, and conforming to values and despite being a stronghold for individuals, can also be a source of isolation and marginalization for LGBT persons in the community reducing these individuals to a sexual minority in the Asian community. This article interprets that in Chinese American families that strictly adhere to traditional values, gay and lesbian sexual orientations may be regarded as deviance. Thus, these sexual orientations that are not heterosexual are thought to bring shame to a family.
This article states that while most second-generation Chinese American young adults and adolescents may be willing to accept LGBT persons, first-generation Chinese Americans regard this sexual orientation as a failure by the parents, disobedience to the traditional Asian norms, a rejection of familial values and culture, and an act of defiance against the piety. Therefore, the strict devotion to Asian values is almost always connected to internalized homophobia and hence brings about the fear of sexual orientation disclosure.
Luo, B. (2008, December 1). Striving for comfort: “Positive” construction of dating cultures among second-generation Chinese American youths. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 16-31.
This article describes the methods that second-generation Chinese American young adults both from Taiwan and mainland China use to construct dating behavior and attitudes socially. This article is based on research conducted on these demographic and it proves that second-generation Chinese American youth pick constructions from both American and Chinese constructs. When discussing subjects such as gender roles and expectations, premarital sex, and the roles of the parents, they choose from both Chinese and American social constructs. The paper justifies their reasoning by stating that the Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans do so to cope with their dual identities. Embracing both constructs is an attempt to be acceptable in both the Chinese and American dating constructs.
The article states that for first-generation Asian Americans from Vietnam, China and Taiwan, the “normal” American way of dating contradicts their traditional Asian cultural norms. They believe that dating precedes marriage while in the American culture, dating is usually a relationship that can/cannot lead to marriage. First-generation Asian Americans also state that dating at a young age is a distraction since it interrupts the student’s ability to get good grades. Traditional Asian norms on sex praise chastity and relate sexual intercourse with procreation as the primary objective. Thus, first-generation Asians hold more conservative views on sexuality.
Xia, Y. R., Do, K. A., & Xie, X. (2013). The Adjustment of Asian American Families to the U.S. Context: The Ecology of Strengths and Stress. American Sociology Journal, 80-113.
This article explores gender relations in the Asian American communities and extrapolates how gender challenges and the cultural dichotomy that Asian American women face translates to their roles and place in society. Second generation Asian American women are more likely to encounter intrinsic conflict rather than first-second generation women. Second generation young men and women are unable to reconcile the traditional passive roles designated to them by their culture and the progressive and independent female roles that characterize the American society.
This article analyzes the patriarchal structure of the Asian American community that pressurizes women to be ‘model’ mothers and wives by marrying early and bearing children. However, second-generation Asian American women are defying these rules, and more and more women are enlightened by pursuing their dreams.
Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY Huang, J., Chen, E. C., & Ponterotto, J. G. (2016). Heterosexual Chinese Americans’ Experiences of Their Lesbian and Gay Sibling’s Coming Out. Asian American Journal of Psychology, VII(3), 147-158.
Luo, B. (2008, December 1). Striving for comfort: “Positive” construction of dating cultures among second-generation Chinese American youths. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 16-31.
Tong, Y. (2013, June 28). Acculturation, gender disparity, and the sexual behavior of Asian American youth. Journal of Sex Research, 50(6), 560-573.
Xia, Y. R., Do, K. A., & Xie, X. (2013). The Adjustment of Asian American Families to the U.S. Context: The Ecology of Strengths and Stress. American Sociology Journal, 80-113.
