Girl In Translation Analysis

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Recommended: Internalized and externalized Oppression

In Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok, Aunt Paula showed a type of internalized oppression towards Ma and Kimberly. Internalized oppression takes place towards Kim and Ma out of jealously. Aunt Paula is acting out feeling oppressed because of she felt forced to marry Uncle Bob when Ma did not. Aunt Paula’s feelings towards Ma and Kim very quickly in the book, and then she was finally able to lay blame on Ma for her living the way she was. Aunt Paula felt like she got the bad deal in it all, she had the dumb child, and the broken husband. Through hatred, intimidation, and oppression Aunt Paula laid the ground work for internalized oppression among immigrant Asians working in the U.S. like Kimberly and Ma. From the beginning of Girl in Translation, it was clear that there was hostility between Aunt Paula and Ma. We saw how Aunt Paula placed Ma and Kim in a vacant building with no heat, rats, cockroaches and broken windows (). Putting Kim and Ma in living conditions like this did not allow them comfort, they became oppressed into solitude. Not only were Kim and Ma placed in an unlivable apartment, but Aunt Kim had Ma working at “the factory.” Making pennies a day Ma was being oppressed into this …show more content…

Then came Harrison. Harrison was the elite private high school that was a dream for most, but Kim got a full scholarship. Aunt Paula was angry. Kim’s cousin was going to a less elite school and made Ma and Kim feel like they did something wrong by applying. Harrison allowed Kim to succeed greater than she would have is she and Ma listened to Aunt Paula. However, Kim’s living conditions and life outside of school was still very much oppressed by Aunt Paula and the inability to escape her. Kim throughout high school faced Aunt Paula and the circumstances she had put her and Ma in. The only savior was her acceptance from Yale (). Going to college would mean that Kim and Ma would have their opportunity to get out from Aunt

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