Woman Warrior Thesis

In The Woman Warrior, Kingston develops the metaphor of China wrapping double binds around her feet in order to illustrate how China's traditional beliefs of women restrict Kingston from acquiring her family's love and support to find her own identity in America. When Kingston is describing her life in America as a disappointment, she compares the expectations of men in relations to women. If a man has a dream, he can pursue it, in contrast to if a woman has a dream, she must abandon it and think of her family first. This leads Kingston to realize the lack of love and support her family provides for her to find her own identity. Once Kingston comes to this realization, she states, "Even now China wraps double binds around my feet" (Kingston
48). This metaphor of China's "double binds" represents its traditional beliefs, depicting women as burdens. Furthermore, this statement highlights how these beliefs are constraining and pulling Kingston back from overcoming them. The constant reminder of Kingston being a burden angers her, hence causing her to continuously dishonor her family and the village by defying the standards of women. This dishonor combined with the burden of being a woman have resulted in a lack of love and support from Kingston's family. Without this love and support, Kingston is alone, forced to find her own identity and succeed in America on her own. As a result of these traditional Chinese beliefs, Kingston's family refuses to give her the love and support she needs due to her gender, therefore preventing her from finding her own life and place in America.