Social Autobiography

Social Autobiography

Growing up in different cultural environments is not easy. There is a threat of loss identity given the chaotic nature of an urban lifestyle (Jenkins et al. 7). Problems are compounded for a girl child who is a lone wolf in the family. In china, parents vest many expectations on their children hence making it harder to shoulder the responsibilities. Social life is greatly hampered as an individual strive to meet the societal expectations and to avoid disappointing their family members. Childhood passes quickly when adult values are instilled at a tender age. As a result, a sense of happiness and fruitful social lifestyle is lost.

My name is Chen and I am 20 years old. Though I consider myself an American of Asian origin, I have spent most of my life in China. My parents always intended for me to lead a successful lifestyle. As a result, they moved into America in the month of July 1995. The timing was never wrong for me to be born in the state of California and subsequently earn a US citizenship. However, my parents soon moved back to China, where I spent most of my childhood.

I am from a middle-class Chinese family of an upper social order. Both my parents are hardworking revered government officials, thus I hardly get a time of socialization with them. Chinese culture is centered on familial ideals, where children are expected to follow parents’ footsteps. A diversion in ideas, feelings or passions may signal doom in personal life and can result in a label of an outcast. Thus, there is a need for every young Chinese to navigate smoothly to avoid arousing suspicion of disobedience and disrespect to parent's wishes. 

I love my parents. Sometimes, I think that they are victims of an oppressive Chinese culture that limits personal abilities and freedom. However given that I spent more than 15 years in the country, I still regard China as my home. As a female child born in an era of strict Chinese one-child policy, most of my extended family members narrow my scope in life. It became harder for me to establish fruitful communications with members of the opposite gender unless it was verified that the boy was not a threat to family ties. Notably, bonds between Chinese families are so strong that intermarriage promises can be made to further strengthen generations-old ties. While in China, I was vulnerable to being hand-picked for a relationship with a boy I never loved. Actually, nobody cared about my personal feelings and needs, not even my parents. Sometimes, I held a rebellious conversation with my parents--especially my father—regarding my needs to associate with like-minded friends. The most common argument that my parents gave for my ‘social suffocation’ was that I should put the family’s reputation first before my own needs. By the time I was 14 years, I had grown tired of arguments that were not fruitful in terms of earning me extra social freedom. However, my mother used to remind me that by the time I was 17 years, I will finally move to the United States and lead own personal lifestyle.

Time passed by quickly.  My mother was right: I moved to America to further my college studies. Already, I was through with my elementary schooling in China. I highly anticipated my stay in the U.S and an establishment of new social life. I was optimistic that my relocation will yield happiness and personal development. I was convinced that Chinese communism wielded a greater effect on the lifestyle of its citizens. On the other hand, I longed for a stay in the United States, where I have heard multiple stories of freedom and democracy.  However, I immediately found out that grass is not greener.

My first day away from China proved chaotic. I learned that in the US, people mind their own business. The bitter truth was that it is hard to lead a better social life, especially for migrants (Berry et al. 19). Being regarded as an ‘Anchor Baby’ was a slap on my face. It dawned on me that the transformation process would not be easy. Besides, my gender shaped my lifestyle in China but in the US, people were regarded as equals. What is even more intriguing is that nobody understood my problems, or so it seems. While I had a chance to pursue my passion, my cultural background crippled my social life. Within a short period of time, I longed to go back home.

Today, I am still struggling to lead a normal life in America. I am constantly reminded of my parents and extended family expectations and how I should strive to meet my life goals. Currently, I am forced to shelve my social needs for the benefit of individuals within my inner circle. While this hampers my ability to interact socially with my friends and peers, it is understandable that sacrifices have to be made. Probably, I expect to complete my education and move back to my native origins. While back in China, I will resume my social life the way I was brought up. I do not want to fall a victim of social and cultural identity again.

Works Cited

Berry, John W., et al. Immigrant youth. Acculturation, Identity and Adaptation. 2010. 17-43. Print.

Jenkins, Richard. Social Identity. London: Routledge, 2014.1-45. Print.