The Problem of Assimilation in "The Dim Sum of All Things" Yashni Ramlochund College

With the increasing emphasis on cultural exchange in recent literature, writers have attempted to point out how difficult it was for the people to maintain their ethnic identity besides their national identity. Assimilation into the mainstream American culture seems to be a primordial way of surviving for Asian Americans, since they have been victims of many stereotypes that it would be natural to escape. This essay will therefore analyze how Asian Americans perceive their assimilation process, that is, whether it can be said that assimilation is primordial but can be used as a masquerade by focusing mostly on Kim Wong Keltner’s novel The Dim Sum of All Things.

Keltner’s novel deals with the issue of assimilation as a discursive process. Her protagonist Lindsey Owyang is a Chinese American girl in her early twenties, but she relates herself more to the white mainstream space. Her hybrid identity is further emphasized by her name. ‘Lindsey’ is more western and modern while ‘Owyang’ reflects her belonging to the Chinese Culture. A Chinese American named as Lindsey emphasizes on the importance of assimilation into the white mainstream culture. Already with a name such as 'Lindsey', she does not escape negative stereotypes...