Abstract
This research paper analyzes the novel Nuclear Family by Joseph Han from a feminist critical lens. One of the largest themes in Nuclear Family is that of division, which this paper expands upon by highlighting the ways in which patriarchal influence has created division throughout the family. Throughout the novel, there are numerous examples of the patriarchal effects on a multitude of characters, from expected gender roles to the expectations placed on each individual due to their position within the family. Incorporating the impact of patriarchy on both the male and female characters, this paper demonstrates the complexity of the influence of patriarchy on people across the gender spectrum. Also of importance to this essay are the effects of immigration in changing and reinforcing gender roles, shown through the immigration of the main and side characters from their home countries to Hawaiʻi. Through a feminist interpretation of Joseph Han’s novel, the influence of patriarchy on families and how it negatively affects their ability to connect, as well as how immigration and the decentralization of the nuclear family shifts patriarchal expectations becomes apparent. Through this analysis, another layer of complexity is added to Nuclear Family’s portrayal of an immigrant family in Hawaiʻi.
Presenters
Xailea Anderson IopaStudent, English and Administrative Justice, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Feminism, Family, Connections, Patriarchy, Immigration
