The Dragon Lady is deceitful, mysterious, domineering, cruel, beautiful, and powerful all at the same time. Sound like someone you know?
The phrase was coined during the 1930s to refer to East Asian women. Originating from the comic strip "Terry and the Pirates" and perpetuated by the roles of Hollywood actress Anna May Wong (who eventually grew tired of these roles), the phrase continues to be used today.
Gendered stereotypes such as "The Dragon Lady" are deeply embedded in American culture and have deeper effects than Hollywood and comic strips. Understanding the life experiences of the authors we will study and the themes in the novels we will read will allow you to see the deeper effects; such as the struggle between 1) cultural unity
and diversity, 2) the old and the
“new” way of life (especially true during times of immigration), 3)
cultural identity,
4) role expectations, and 5) assimilation. All of these issues will be
explored
through the lens of gender, and will be enhanced by the primary and
secondary readings. and your own writing.
This wiki supports the class "Asian American Women
Writers." It gathers together a collection of resources that will help
you to experience issues specific to Asian American Culture. To navigate the wiki, use the menu on the left.
