| Description |
ix, 241 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm. |
| Series |
American history and culture
|
|
American history and culture (New York University Press)
|
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 191-230) and index. |
| Summary |
Lim highlights the cultural activities of young, predominantly unmarried Asian American women from 1930 to 1960. This period marks a crucial generation-the first in which American-born Asians formed a critical mass and began to make their presence felt in the United States. Though they were distinguished from previous generations by their American citizenship, it was only through these seemingly mundane "American" activities that they were able to overcome two-dimensional stereotypes of themselves as kimono-clad "Orientals." Lim traces the diverse ways in which these young women sought claim to cultural citizenship, exploring such topics as the nation's first Asian American sorority, Chi Alpha Delta; the cultural work of Chinese American actress Anna May Wong; Asian American youth culture and beauty pageants; and the achievement of fame of three foreign-born Asian women in the late 1950s. By wearing poodle skirts, going to the beach, and producing magazines, she argues, they asserted not just their American-ness, but their humanity: a feeling of belonging. |
| Contents |
"A feeling of belonging" : Chi Alpha Delta, 1928-1941 -- "I protest" : Anna May Wong and the performance of modernity -- Shortcut to glamour : popular culture in a consumer society -- Contested beauty : Asian American beauty culture during the Cold War -- Riding the crest of an Oriental wave : foreign-born Asian "beauty". |
| Subject |
Asian American women -- Social life and customs -- 20th century.
|
|
Asian American women. |
|
Manners and customs. |
| Chronological Term |
20th century |
| Subject |
Asian Americans -- Cultural assimilation -- History -- 20th century.
|
|
Asian Americans -- Cultural assimilation. |
|
History. |
|
Asian Americans. |
|
Young women -- United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century.
|
|
Young women. |
|
United States. |
|
Single women -- United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century.
|
|
Single women. |
|
Leisure -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
|
|
Leisure. |
|
Popular culture -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
|
|
Popular culture. |
|
United States -- Social life and customs -- 1918-1945.
|
| Chronological Term |
1918-1945 |
| Subject |
United States -- Social life and customs -- 1945-1970.
|
| Chronological Term |
1945-1970 |
| ISBN |
0814751938 cloth alkaline paper |
|
0814751946 paperback alkaline paper |
| Standard No. |
9780814751930 |
|
9780814751947 |
|
