Chinese American Culture

Interviews
Professor Lin R. Chen, and Yan Litster are both first generation Chinese-Americans. Lin
Chen was born and raised in Fuzhou China. He came to the United States as a graduate student,
studying international studies and language instruction from the University of Utah in 1989. This
was after China declared its open door policy, which allowed citizens of China to go abroad
for studies and more. After the Tiananmen Square massacre, the United States Government gave
a special exception for students from China studying abroad. They allowed students the
opportunity to become citizens so that they wouldnt have to return to communist China. Lin
Chen was one of the students that accepted that offer. Mr. Chens experience with acculturation is
unique.
As a student of international studies, he studied cultures from all around the globe and
gained the viewpoint that there is no such thing as a good culture or a bad culture - just different
cultures. When raising his family he essentially selected different aspects of different cultures to
emulate (which he thought would be beneficial for his family). His spouse and he are egalitarian,
in which he and his wife share in house chores and collecting the household income. This is
uncommon compared to the more popular traditional family responsibilities of both Chinese and
American culture at the time.
Yan Litster is from Nanning China. She came to the United States to marry Brian Litster,
with whom she previously had a long distance relationship. She was required to go to the United
States citizenship and immigration services to prove that her marriage was legitimate. She failed
the test the first time and had to wait another year and one half before another attempt. She did
pass on the second attempt, and has been a citizen for just over ten years.

When she was growing up, her family was structured according to typical Chinese
customs. Her grandparents lived with them, and helped raise and teach the children, while her
parents worked to earn income for the family. Once the children were old enough, the
grandparents moved to her uncles home to raise his children. The one child policy of China was
not in effect until after Yan Litsters father and uncle were born.
Mrs. Litster and her family are also egalitarian in regards to both spouses working and
helping with household chores. This was the model until their daughter was born. Yan Litster
stayed home to raise their one daughter until she was old enough to go to school, then she began
working again. Their family reflects what is more common now of the modern traditional
American family. Yan Litsters family is bi-racial. She followed acculturation norms, by
accepting and conforming to the culture she immigrated, and married into as her own. Another
common practice that she is emulating is that she is teaching her daughter her native tongue,
Mandarin.

Background
The first Chinese immigrants to come to the United States came seeking riches in the
California gold rush in the late 1840s. Only a handful ever found the wealth they were searching
for. When their dreams for wealth through gold mining and prospecting didnt pan out, they
began looking for work in other fields of labor. Many joined the effort to construct the transcontinental railroad. Labor needs were so great, that many more Chinese immigrants came to the
United States to help with the work.
Most Chinese immigrants settled on the West coast, with a smaller amount going to New
York City. Intense discrimination arose with the increase of immigrants. Chinese immigrants
were seen as a threat for work and income, as well as being an inferior race by white

Americans. Those with Chinese ancestry were beaten, lynched, degraded, and even forced from
their homes to live in separate communities called China towns. Those with anti-Chinese
sentiments referred to these immigrants as the yellow peril, which illustrates the fear they had
that the Chinese immigrants would take over their own livelihood.
Discrimination increased when a congressional act was passed to limit the amount of
immigrants from Asian countries, such as with China to 104 persons a year in 1882. China towns
had mostly male inhabitants, and most men living within were mainly earning money to support
their families in China. There were other laws passed that strictly limited what type of labor they
could perform and businesses they could own. People of Chinese descent were legally kept from
voting, testifying in court, and marrying white Americans.
The list of inequality and immense discrimination goes on: Chinese businesses and
individuals had much higher taxes exacted from them, Chinese casualties during the construction
of the transcontinental railroad were not counted, balanced recognition was not given to Chinese
immigrants was not given for their help with the transcontinental railroad, they were barred from
colleges and universities, etc.
Even today, racism and discrimination against Chinese, and other Asian-Americans
continues. Asian Americans are not properly represented in popular media. They are only given
stereotypical roles where typically they all know martial arts, and/or cannot speak English
properly. Being one of the larger minority groups in the United States, (consisting of around 5%)
it is baffling that Asian-Americans in general are so underrepresented, as well as misrepresented
in mass media.

Family
The traditional Chinese family follows a patriarchal hierarchy, in which the grandfather is
usually the head. Multiple generations live together and have different roles of responsibility.
The grandparents lead and teach the family. Usually the grandfather is the head and the
grandmother takes most of the responsibility to raise the children. Both parents usually work to
bring the family income, but the father is the next head. For the last 35 years, China has had a
one child policy, meaning families could only have one child. This in addition to China being a
male dominant society causes an array of controversial issues.
Some controversial issues include the following: Parents favor boys over girls because
males carry on the family name and are also responsible for taking care of their parents when
they are older. This leads to many gender based abortions, and even infanticide. Sometimes
within the family there are differing opinions between grandparents and parents for how children
should be raised. Which causes some family tension and strife.
In the United States, it is common for Chinese-American families to live in a traditional
Chinese multi-generational family structure. One difference is that there is usually more than one
child. Such is the case with Mr. Lin Chens family; He has two daughters, but the grandparents
that live with them are his wifes parents, which is atypical.

Music
Traditional Chinese music can be broken into three sections: classical, opera, and folk.
This is similar to many other cultures around the world. Classical music was originally enjoyed
only by the higher class, and is very structured. Chinese classical music is always poetically and
philosophically themed. Musicians that played classical music would try to tell a poetic story
with their instruments. The classical style is very smooth, and continuous sounding; there isnt a

strong pulse or beat driving the music. Chinese classical style does not include lyrics. The
classical style followed a Confucius teaching that proper music was for tranquility and
transcendence, not entertainment or dancing.
A music style purely for entertainment is Chinese opera. Chinese opera developed from
the classical style. Instruments were used as accompaniment for the opera singers as well as
making sound effects. Opera styles varied upon the city of origin; more well-known styles
include Beijing, and Peking. To understand and enjoy Chinese opera, education is needed.
Chinese is a tonal language, therefore when singing the words it is easy for listeners to get lost,
unless the listeners are familiar with the story. In modern times words are often printed and given
to audience members to ensure understanding. Also, colors and masks are representative of
character traits. Chinese opera is often sang in a higher register, which takes some getting used
to. Without some previous knowledge of these things, Chinese opera would probably seem
confusing and annoying.
Chinese folk music varied by region. Common folk songs reflected ballads or folk songs
of other cultures and would often have lyrics and tell stories of love, adventure, and myth.
Instrumental styles would be played at festivals, tea houses, and other common gatherings as
either celebratory or mood music.
China developed many different types of string, wind, and percussion instruments. A few
popular, traditional, Chinese instruments include the: erhu, pipa, dizi, big drum, and guzheng.
The erhu is a two stringed instrument played with a bow. The pipa reflects the western lute, and
is played similarly. It has 4 strings and 16 frets. The dizi is a flute made from bamboo. The big
drum is just what it sounds like: a big drum. It is a large drum made of animal hide stretched over
a hollow wood body that is played with wooden, or bamboo sticks. The guzheng is a stringed

instrument consisting of 18-23 strings and movable bridges for each string. It is laid horizontally
on a table or stands, while the player is seated behind it. It is played with both hands; the right
hand plucking the strings while the left hand presses and slides on the strings for different
pitches, vibrato, and a bending sound.
Modern, popular Chinese music reflects popular music from the United States. One or
more singers, guitar players, drum kits, synthesizers, and so forth, with the exception that
traditional Chinese instruments are used occasionally. The same variety of genres can be found in
popular music in China as in the United States. Chinese-Americans generally listen to popular
music genres and artists like any other citizen of the United States. It can be noted that hip/hop
and rap are preferred genres throughout the Chinese-American culture.
I Break Stereotypes by Korean-American Heesun Lee ft. Chinese-American MC Jin is
a rap song that shows how the artists are breaking many stereotypes. Women dont rap, Asians
dont rap, rap is degrading and has explicit lyrics, Asians arent Christians, Asians arent cool,
and rappers arent good parents. These are some stereotypes that these two artists are breaking,
and they are gaining popularity. As they continue to gain popularity they could help break these
stereotypes in the minds of others. This song exudes a message that everyone should break
stereotypes that hold them down, as well as breaking the stereotypes we have of different people
around us.

Conclusion
Racism is still an issue in our society. It hasnt disappeared, just changed its form. I think
that racism is turning away from violence, and name calling, and turning towards stereotyping,
as well as humor. We all know some racist jokes and slurs, which exploit stereotypes. Its a part
of the mainstream culture of the United States. This form of racism may seem harmless, but even

in joking it can be very harmful to the minds, and feelings of its victims. I believe that with
more education of diversity, and different cultures will help eliminate racism. I do fear that
because racism is so locked in humor that it will be difficult to root out completely. It may take a
long time, but I think it is possible to reduce racism dramatically, if not eradicate it. ChineseAmericans have especially faced a lot of racism and discrimination throughout the history of the
United States. They still face high amounts of discrimination, racism, and stereotyping in popular
media. Chinese-Americans deserve a greater, and more accurate presence in the minds of
Americans. This may begin to occur as they are given more opportunities to be represented in the
media. Although our opportunities to make a difference may be a slow, and small effort, we can
choose not to be bound by stereotypes of our own, and other cultures.

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