The title of this excerpt shows us that women don’t really have a lot of power in Chinese-American society, they don’t have a say, and hold no power. It also shows that even after all this time, the author STILL does not know the name of the forgotten aunt. Meaning that she either did not ask, or even if she did, she got no response answering the question. Further proving how far women’s place has been engraved into her.
Their status is further reflected when she says, “It was probably a girl; there is some hope for forgiveness for BOYS,” (pg 18). This shows she might have been able to regain her place in the family if only she’d given birth to a male. Meaning that in Chinese culture, mothers who bear males are highly valued, to the point a scandal like this could almost be overlooked.
And while all this happens, while their house is torn apart and their live stock slaughtered, the rest stand there and take it. After it’s all said and done, THEN the family starts cursing the aunt. It’s worse than what the community did to them. To go as far as to FORGET, or DENY they ever existed? That’s serious honor and patriarchy going on in the Chinese community.