Sun-Hee Park, Lisa. Consuming Citizenship: Book Report

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The social definitions of citizenship here, Park argues, play the major role since legally children of immigrants are not required to overcome the barriers imposed by the existing social hierarchy. The idea of social citizenship helps us to understand the unequal power structure that relegates immigrants -- and other representatives of the lower class, for that matter -- "to particular spaces within this hierarchy based upon their race, class, and gender" (p. 5).

Asian immigrants in America, Park argues, have to choose between being a "dependent" immigrant and a "deserving" one. Most Asian-Americans strive for the latter, fulfilling the expectations of the dominant culture as a "model minority." This decision, according to Park, is based on a "false" idea, as this notion, rather than granting Asian-Americans full citizenship, reinforces their designated social space where Asian-Americans know how to "behave" in a certain way. The "model minority" notion presumes that Asian-Americans are superior to African-Americans but are inferior to White Americans. Moreover, Park also argues, American dominant culture falsely claims that the Asian-American successes in finding upward economic mobility are made possible by the opportunities offered in the United States. In reality, she argues, Asian-Americans succeed in spite of the barriers imposed by the social structure which discriminates along racial, gender, and class lines.

Park outlines her argument in the book by dividing it into several chapters thematically.

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In chapter 2, she discusses the social context under which the experiences of Chinese and Korean-American immigrant children may be analyzed. She argues that Korean and Chinese-Americans forge a "strong collective Asian-American identity" (p. 24). In chapter 3, Park elaborates more on the definition of consumption which pressures Korean and Chinese immigrant children to pursue entrepreneurial careers in the face of occupational and familial constraints. Chapter 4 discusses the difficulties children experience by living in entrepreneurial families. Park specifically looks at how the childhood experiences of Asian-American children blur the distinction between "childhood" and adulthood," forcing them to "grow up too fast" as children "and, as young adults, never age" (p. 65). Chapter 5, titled "The American Narrative of Asian Immigration," discusses immigrant children's construction of a narrative, recounting the stories of their parents and why they decided to leave their homeland as well as their experiences of living in a new social environment. These narratives, Park argues, are primarily shaped by the American vision of Asian entrepreneurs as immigrant heroes. Chapter 6, extends this narrative by discussing its implications on immigrant children who are pressured by their parents "to move beyond the family business," and pursue well-paid professions as doctors and lawyers (p. 110).

The last chapter of the book discusses the importance of consumption in the functioning of liberal democracies. Park.....

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