American Gender Issues and Chinese Ethnicity in Ah Sin

Abstract

Ah Sin, a collaboration of Mark Twain and Bret Harte, is set in the multicultural frontier of gold rush California, where several cultural and gender ideologies met. Whereas nineteenth-century American Orientalism tended to marginalize and feminize the Orient, Ah Sin figures the Chinese as the central character. This article argues that, in addition to the disruption of Oriental stereotypes, the play's portrayal of white females in relation to a Chinese servant points toward contemporary gender issues in relation to racism against the Chinese. By exploring the emerging frontier ideologies that emphasized the importance of domestic work and house management in maintaining the stability of the nation, the play acknowledges the contributions of Chinese servants and white women to American society. Much as the feminized Chinese character restores his ”manhood” notwithstanding the sexist stereotypes of the Chinese as effeminate, the heroine undermines the stereotyped notions about frail womanhood. The play reflects on the parallels in the development of each group's struggles. As such, Ah Sin challenges many levels of racist and gendered assumptions prevalent in the 19th century American Orientalism by way of dismantling the false binary between the masculine West and the feminine East.