Mah is a clear representation of the matriarch of the Chinese family who is seemingly still tied to her Chinese origins; she is emotional, bossy and is often abandoned by her husband Leon. ... Through this family orientation Leila is conflicted in her ideal pursuit of Americanization as she is seemingly always drawn back by her mother's and Leon's personal needs. ... Her process of Americanization is different from her families and so is the process of the construction of her identity based on the ideals of both "American" and "Chinese" cultures. ... Leila's...

• Word Count: 1094
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Graduate