Tell This Silence: Asian American Women Writers and the Politics of Speech

by Patti Duncan

"Tell This Silence" by Patti Duncan explores multiple meanings of speech and silence in Asian American women's writings in order to explore relationships among race, gender, sexuality, and national identity. Duncan argues that contemporary definitions of U.S. feminism must be expanded to recognize the ways in which Asian American women have resisted and continue to challenge the various forms of oppression in their lives. There has not yet been adequate discussion of the multiple meanings of silence and speech, especially in relation to activism and social-justice movements in the U.S. In particular, the very notion of silence continues to invoke assumptions of passivity, submissiveness, and avoidance, while speech is equated with action and empowerment. However, as the writers discussed in "Tell This Silence" suggest, silence too has multiple meanings especially in contexts like the U.S., where speech has never been a guaranteed right for all citizens. Duncan argues that writers such as Maxine Hong Kingston, Mitsuye Yamada, Joy Kogawa, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Nora Okja Keller, and Anchee Min deploy silence as a means of resistance. Juxtaposing their OC unofficial narrativesOCO against other historiesOCoofficial U.S. histories that have excluded them and American feminist narratives that have stereotyped them or distorted their participationOCothey argue for recognition of their cultural participation and offer analyses of the intersections among gender, race, nation, and sexuality. "Tell This Silence" offers innovative ways to consider Asian American gender politics, feminism, and issues of immigration and language. This exciting new study will be of interest to literary theorists and scholars in women's, American, and Asian American studies."

293 pages, Hardcover

First published December 22, 2003

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and most of the chapters/essays were strong. However, I felt like the chapter about sexuality was more an essay about lesbianism in Asian American women writer's books and not about their use of silence.

[Amanda Chiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this anthology and although academic it is also quite accessible and interesting. Contemporary Asian-American feminist literature is not easy to come by so I will always enjoy new and radical perspectives.