The Struggle Of Being An All American Girl By Elizabeth Wong

In “The struggle of being an all American girl”, the author, Elizabeth Wong narrates how difficult it was for her being an American with Chinese roots. The author wished to only be part of the American culture, and disliked being Chinese. During the essay the author narrates how hard it was to be forced by her mother to be more involved in the Chinese culture. She had to attend Chinese school for two years, not only learning the language but the act of politeness as well. She described the Chinese culture as ugly and inferior to the American culture. Comparing the smell of the schools, American and Chinese, and making seem the American flag as more beautiful than China’s flag. For her, the language was ordinary and lack of beauty. Compared

to other languages, Chinese sounded common and loud. Unlike the gentle sound from American South it was unpleasant in every way. The culture in general represented to her embarrassment and discomfort. Especially in Chinatown, the flow of Chinese sounded disorderly and fanatical. After being allowed to stop attending Chinese school she though of herself as multicultural person. Then she ends with an expression that contradicts her saying she was Chinese-American equally. Giving the last chance to understand her struggle, explaining in simple words that she was able to assimilate, but never was able to change who she was and where her family came from.