City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works All Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects 2-2014 Changing gender: Gender role, class and the experience of Chinese female immigrants Doris Cheung Graduate Center, City University of New York How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/25 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] i Changing gender: Gender role, class and the experience of Chinese female immigrants by Doris Shukkwan Cheung City University of New York A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Psychology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, The City University of New York 2014 ii © 2014 Doris Cheung All Rights Reserved iii This manuscript has been read and accepted for the Graduate Faculty in Psychology in satisfaction of the dissertation requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Anna Stetsenko, Ph.D. Date Chair of Examining Committee Maureen O' Connor, Ph.D., J.D. Date Executive Officer Anna Stetsenko, Ph.D. Cynthia Epstein, Ph.D Wendy Luttrell, Ph.D. Eduardo Vianna , Ph.D. Daisuke Akiba, Ph.D. Supervisory Committee iv THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK Abstract The Gender Role Identity Development of Chinese Female Immigrants by Doris Cheung Adviser: Professor Anna Stetsenko This dissertation analyzes gender role identity development in Chinese female immigrants from diverse work and education backgrounds. This study focuses on Chinese female immigrants, bakery salesladies and social workers, to addresses a gap in the existing literature, which has previously emphasized factory workers and students, on gender role identity development at the interface of social context and activity system dynamics. To understand further the Chinese fe- male immigration experience, this research investigates how gender role identity is manifested across different social contexts and institutions. I administered questionnaires and conducted in- terviews with Chinese female immigrants residing in New York City. The sample consisted of two groups with different occupations, educational backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, and levels of cultural assimilation: bakery salesladies and social workers. I captured the process of gender role identity development through participants’ own voices and narratives. I analyzed the data and discussed it in light of an activity theory framework. The key finding was that, for both groups, gender role identity was deeply influenced by traditional Chinese ideology including the v traditional gender hierarchy, male supremacy, and the values of modesty, and maintaining inter- personal harmony. Bakery salesladies encountered less conflict at work and were more likely to avoid conflict at home. In contrast, social workers expressed a greater predisposition to voice their opinions without being confrontational at work and were ready to halt conversations when they sensed that their husbands were getting upset. Furthermore, in terms of life goals, the bakery salesladies tended to focus on their family needs and perceive the success of family members as their own success, whereas the social workers often had aspirations that went beyond traditional gender roles and valued and aspired to contributing to society. The findings reveal gender role identity to be an active and non-homogenous process of "doing gender" through which women negotiate various positions across cultural contexts, social locations, histories and ideologies within their unique activity systems. vi Acknowledgements It has been a long journey and many people have influenced this work in many ways, large and small. Writing a dissertation requires gathering a collection of advisers, contributors, collaborators, and supporters, a list too long to be included here. For those who remain unnamed, I trust you know you are not unappreciated. First, I would like to thank my grandmother in heaven. The graduation present she gave me before she passed away motivated and encouraged me when I struggled. Grandma, I want to let you know that I did it, and I love you! I would like to take this opportunity to thank my committee members. Dr. Anna Stetsen- ko has been my adviser since I first started my doctoral studies. She has facilitated my learning, and, in the process of developing the dissertation, her feedback shaped my theoretical frame- work, guided my research, and h as aided me in the write up of my work. She also motivated me to move along and finish my dissertation. Along with Anna, Dr. Suzanne Ouellette, who from the beginning of my studies until she retired served with great wisdom on my committee. Dr. Cynthia Epstein provided valuable feedback as I designed and conceptualized my work. Her and Dr. Wendy Luttrell’s much appreciated comments and advice helped me in writing and revising the text. My readers, Drs. Eduardo Vianna and Daisuke Akiba, provided additional perspectives, insights, and much needed encouragement in the process of revising the dissertation. I greatly appreciate all your comments and suggestions. I have learned much from each of you and would like to thank you for your support and encouragement. I am much obliged that you took the journey with me. vii My friend and listener Cheri Chan, who edited earlier versions of my dissertation, walked with me in the last part of the journey. My editor, Dr. Robert Sauté, who worked with me on a tight schedule, taught me in the process how to be a better writer through his editing and com- ments. I would not have been able to finish it without your help and support. Many Christian friends prayed for me, and many colleagues in Mental Health Associa- tion of the Southern Tier provided me with lots of love and support in the final stages of the dis- sertation. Thank you! I need to thank all the bakery salesladies and social workers who participated in this study for their willingness to share pieces of their lives with me. It was my honor to interview all of them and learn from their stories. This work would have been impossible without your partic- ipation. Finally, I would like to thank my family. My mom, dad, and brother have all been very supportive in their own little ways. I have to thank my 4-year-old, Ivana Lee, who gave me hugs and kisses when I needed them most and said to me, “Mommy 豬, you have a lot of work to do! 加油! 加油! 加油!”1 when I was tired. Deepest thanks to my loving and supportive husband, Ho Ming Lee, who has been a non-traditional Chinese husband, helping me with almost all the housework in the final stage. This work could never have been finished without all of you. 1 Almost like “Go, go, go!” in English viii Last but not least, I need to thank my Heavenly Father, who provided me with all the love and support I needed and sent many messengers and angels to help me in many ways throughout the process. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: ...................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2.1 Activity theory ........................................................................................................................................... 9 1.2.2 Activity theory and Chinese female immigrants .................................................................................... 25 1.3 LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................................................................................. 27 1.3.1 Traditional and modern Chinese gender role ideologies ....................................................................... 27 1.3.2 The experience of Chinese immigrants in New York City ....................................................................... 45 1.4 DEFINING GENDER ROLE IDENTITY ............................................................................................................................ 48 1.5 INTERSECTIONALITY AND HYBRIDITY PERSPECTIVE ........................................................................................................ 55 1.6 LIFE NARRATIVE .................................................................................................................................................... 59 1.7 MY OWN EXPERIENCE AS A CHINESE FEMALE IMMIGRANT ............................................................................................ 64 1.7.1 Limited freedom ...................................................................................................................................... 65 1.7.2 Putting family before self ........................................................................................................................ 66 1.7.3 Male supremacy ...................................................................................................................................... 67 1.7.4 Only ignorant women are virtuous/ proper speech and modest manner ............................................