Leaving Deep Water: Asian American Women at the Crossroads of Two Cultures

by Claire S. Chow

Book Overview

Integrating ethnic identity with mainstream American culture is a complex task. In Leaving Deep Water Claire S. Chow deftly explores the many ways that women of Asian descent have forged a place for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452280494
• ISBN13: 9780452280496
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Plume Books
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent range of experiences and views

I picked up this book a couple of years ago when I became involved with a woman who has lived in America many years but is still "very Chinese." It has been invaluable in helping to understand not only our own dynamic but her relations within her family and community, her siblings and her teen children who are becoming "very American." There is a good deal that is universal for any immigrant group or family facing problems of acculturation and generational gap -- a lot sounds familiar from my own mother's experience coming from another, European, "old country" in the 1920's. But there is also much that is specific to Asian cultures, particularly the very extended (both chronologically and geographically) families, and the lack of (or very different) cultural role models for independence from the family. This is also a just plain 'good read', with a variety of first person voices filtered through Chow's interviews. It's the individual stories that fascinate, and the author's commentary ties them together nicely, informed by her education as a therapist. One previous reviewer, ragamala78, found objectionable the overt and subtle racism and ethnocentricity that pervade much of the book. I'm not sure if he expected the author to provide a resounding denunciation or what; but, though far from universal, these attitudes do exist and have to be acknowledged in any discussion of the subjects dealt with here. Chow does so, and lets us make our own judgement, or lets us simply be informed. One has to suspect she is making a subtle point in juxtaposing her subjects' bitterness at racist attitudes directed toward them with their bland matter-of-fact acceptence of racist attitudes toward non-Asians. Interesting companions might be Fae Myenne Ng's "Bone" and the Mina Shum film "Double Happiness".

living between two cultures

I always think that for those who were born in this country (USA) do not have any problems to "fit in" at schools or at work or at any communities. They were "American-born." Racial problems or discrimination issues should only be occurred to those who emigrated from other countries. Apparently it is not always the case. As the second generation and has an interracial-marriage, Ms Chow experienced unavoidable conflicts between her two cultures. In this well-written book, she not only told her own story, but also unveiled many other Asian-Americans women's stories. I enjoyed it!

Best book I've read on the Asian American female experience!

As a Chinese-American woman, the themes in this book resonated deeply with me. In fact, it articulated many thoughts that have been fomenting in my mind for quite sometime but that I could never articularte as clearly (and I consider myself quite articulate on these issues!). Although none of the sketches are exactly my experience; there were bit of almost everyone of of them that I could relate to. Furthermore the collage of voices made me feel that there is a group of Asian American women out there with whom I share a kindren spirit -- it is rare that a book resonates with me at such a level.Others who have not had these experiences may not understand what comes across as "overt racism" in this book (e.g., parental objections to interracial marriage). However, the xenophobism of the older generation is the reality that many Asian Americans face, and the book does a great job of "telling it like it is" rather than trying to gloss over these issues is a more politically correct fashion.

A Book tha helped me understand my own experiences

As an Asian Indian American who was born and raised in the Heartland, I found this book helped me understand my own experiences growing up between two cultures. I could never really understand nor articulate the tug-of-war I felt between my Indian hertiage and my alliegence to the only home I've ever known. Reading the experiences of Chow's book made my heart sing as the women she interviewed repeatedly touched on feelings I have always carried with me. This book made me understand the universality of growing up as Asian women in America and turmoil this position brings. I especially loved the way she set up the book in order of life-stages. Even though I have yet to reach some of these stages (parenthood and married life) I found the book made me reflect on how I myself would handle issues that arise from being a wife or a parent. This book is a must read for any Asian, despite criticism that it only reflects experiences of East-Asian women. I feel a lot of the issues and experiences raised in the book also applies to those of South-Asian decent.

An important book for Asian-American and Women's Studies

This is an imaginative, well-written, and important book. Claire Chow has explored a range of issues concerned with conflicts between Asian and American culture and social expectations. Topics included are gender relations and the tension between Asian-American expectations and those of the immigrant generation; mothers and daughters; fathers and daughters; choosing a partner; marriage and divorce; raising children; employment; ethnicity and identity; and a sense of belonging among other subjects. The writing is lucid, her family therapist training and experience applied in informative and insightful ways. Her own experience and her interviews are carefully integrated for maximum impact on her narrative presentation and her analysis. This book will be valuable in the classroom and for those Asian-American women and men who want a better perspective on how their experience is consistent with and differs from that of other immigrants, as well as from 1.5, second, and later generation Asian-Americans. I will use it in my class on the Asian American Experience and others will find it informative and suggestive.