Bao's "Politicizing Motherhood"

I found Xiaolan Bao’s “Politicizing Motherhood: Chinese Garment Workers’ Campaign for Daycare Centers in New York City, 1977 – 1982,” especially interesting because of the unity that the garment worker’s had even through all their struggles. Bao outlines the ways in which Chinese women were excluded from the work force, and the fact that they had to resort to the garment industry. I agree with Katrina in that Asians tend to have high motivation but avoid confrontation. However, this essay was inspiring because instead of conforming to American society, these women were able to keep their cultural values. This essay reminded me of another essay in which Korean women united and were able to conserve their culture and connect on a different level.

I felt that these women should gain more credit because in addition to providing for their families, they were fighting for a cause. It reminded me of Evelyn Nakano Glenn’s article, where she mentions Asian Americans tended to care for children as well as working. However, it inspires me that these women were able to create a change for the rest of Chinese immigrants even to present day.