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In order to better understand the change observed in Chinatown, it should be kept in mind that culture is not a static concept (Chavez 295). Culture is a fluid construct that is constantly integrating external and internal influences into the continuous cycle of practices being replicated in a community (Chavez 295-296). To say therefore that the Chinese culture as practiced in the United States has variations tinged with American influence is not to mean that Chinese culture is being watered down. Chinese culture, by its very nature as culture, must be constantly evolving even as it ensures the maintenance of core beliefs and behaviors.

The Democratization of Chinese Women

Going through Chinatown I also observed that there were many women engaged in business and even roaming the streets wearing business attires or school uniforms. This would not have caught my attention if I had not remembered the high value that Chinese give to male offspring. This resulted in male offspring being favored for educational, work and business opportunities. Such a distinction is not established in American culture which would be why I wouldn’t find it striking that women would be equally influential as men.

It may be true that women in modern China are gaining influence and equal opportunity but the areas wherein they may actually excel are still limited and dependent on the government’s prevailing attitude (Hom 230). Chinese-American women lobby for the equal protection of the rights of their Chinese counterparts. The Chinese-American woman is a highly empowered woman with limitless possibilities ahead of her. She may aspire to become a university teacher, an entrepreneur, a doctor, and the like.

The fact that Chinese-Americans take this capacity of women as a matter of fact reflects their shift in perspective. They have detached themselves from the Chinese mindset. Despite such detachment, Chinese-Americans still profess a concern for mainland China and they express a desire for mainland China to improve and progress in this area (Hom 233). This desire for greater productivity in mainland China was still based on a deep love for their native land.

The farther the generation is from the pioneer immigrant generation, the more distant their connection is to their native land (Pan 283). This shows why the shift from a patriarchal society was tolerated and even advocated by the present generation of Chinese-Americans. Given the number of years and generations since their families had moved to America, they were sufficiently detached from mainland China to now adopt new beliefs and to even consider such beliefs as superior to their inherited cultural practice.