Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of History
First Advisor
Linda A. Walton
Term of Graduation
Spring 1991
Date of Publication
5-3-1991
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (M.A.) in History
Department
History
Language
English
Subjects
Chinese American women -- History -- 19th century, Chinese women -- United States -- Public opinion, Prostitution -- United States -- History -- 19th century, United States -- Race relations -- History -- 19th century
DOI
10.15760/etd.6174
Physical Description
1 online resource (4, iv, 165 pages)
Abstract
Chinese female immigrants were active cultural contributors and participants in nineteenth century America, yet Americans often simplified their roles into crude stereotypes and media symbols. The early western accounts concerning females in China created the fundamental images that were the basis of the later stereotypes of women immigrants. The fact that a majority of the period's Chinese female immigrants became prostitutes fueled anti-Chinese feelings.
This thesis investigates the general existence of Chinese prostitutes in nineteenth century America and how they were portrayed in the media. American attitudes toward white women and their images of Chinese women created the stereotype of all Chinese female immigrants as immoral. Thus, they became unconscious pawns of nineteenth century American nativist forces wanting to limit and prevent Chinese immigration based on prejudicial and racist attitudes.
Rights
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/25053
Recommended Citation
Landroche, Tina Michele, "Chinese Women as Cultural Participants and Symbols in Nineteenth Century America" (1991). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 4291.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.6174
Comments
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