Mrs Spring Fragrance

In what ways do Chinese-American men have opportunities to engage with the white dominant culture that women do not?

If Mrs. Spring Fragrance ever has a daughter, she wants her daughter to “walk in the groove of the Superior Woman” (27). What social factors inform her preference?

What are some strongly held Chinese values that get upended by living in America and Canada? Which values persist?

Compare and contrast Mrs. Spring Fragrance and Pau Lin. What are some of the personal characteristics that make Mrs. Spring Fragrance better able to adapt to a new place and culture?

What are some of the ways that the characters in these stories transmit their values and culture to the next generation?

In “The Inferior Woman,” the narrator mentions Will Carman’s “impetuous Irish heart” (17). In “The Gift of Little Me,” when Miss McLeod is unfairly accused of kidnapping, “the blood of Scottish chieftains throbbed” (60) in her veins. Are the American-born children of Chinese immigrants afforded the same social status of “American” as the American-born children of Irish and Scottish immigrants? Support your answer with examples from the text.

What qualities do Jean McLeod and Minnie Carson possess that make them successful in adapting to Chinese-American culture? What qualities hindered other well-intentioned white women outlined in these stories from developing meaningful friendships with members of the Chinese-American community?

What role do Missions play in the assimilation of Chinese immigrants to the United States and Canada?