“In the American Society” is a short story by Chinese American author Gish Jen that follows the Chang family as they navigate life between two cultures. Told through the perspective of Callie, a second-generation teenager, the story explores her immigrant parents’ struggles to balance traditional Chinese values with American social norms. Split into two parts—“His Own Society” and “In the American Society”—the story depicts Mr. Chang’s challenges as a restaurant owner and a reluctant participant in upper-class American culture. Themes of assimilation, family dynamics, and cultural identity run throughout, highlighting both the conflicts and humorous missteps that come with trying to belong in a society that doesn’t always welcome outsiders.
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