Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses 1991 Chinese women as cultural participants and symbols in nineteenth century America Tina Michele Landroche Portland State University Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the Asian American Studies Commons, and the Social History Commons Recommended Citation Landroche, Tina Michele, "Chinese women as cultural participants and symbols in nineteenth century America" (1991). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 4291. 10.15760/etd.6174 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Tina Michele Landroche for the Master of Arts in History presented May 3, 1991. Title: Chinese Women as Cultural Participants and Symbols in Nineteenth Century America. APPROVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE THESIS COMMITTEE: Llneiq., A'. Waft.on-; Chair Thomas D. Morris Sharon A. Carstens Chinese female immigrants were active cultural contributors and participants in nineteenth century America, yet Americans often simplified their roles into 2 crude stereotypes and media symbols. The early western accounts concerning females in China created the fundamental images that were the basis of the later stereotypes of women immigrants. The fact that a majority of the period's Chinese female immigrants became prostitutes fueled anti-Chinese feelings. This thesis investigates the general existence of Chinese prostitutes in nineteenth century America and how they were portrayed in the media.