Fish Cheeks

The miniskirt, which appears in the second to last paragraph of the essay, can be interpreted as a representation of the larger, mainstream American culture. One of the focal elements of the essay is Tan’s desire to fit into this American culture, and in this way, the miniskirt serves as a symbol of the white Americanness that Tan wishes to assimilate into. For the majority of the essay she seeks this acceptance from Robert and his family as she obsessively notes their reactions to her boisterous relatives and the traditional Chinese dinner her mother has prepared. However, Tan’s search for acceptance also extends beyond Robert’s family, as she clearly desires to have an “American nose” and looks for approval by following American fashion trends. When Tan’s mother gifts her the miniskirt, she is acknowledging her daughter’s desire to assimilate and the discomfort she must feel at not fitting into their new culture. However, she also imparts a meaningful lesson. She reminds Tan that although she can be “the same as American girls on the outside” (Paragraph 7), she cannot erase her Chinese identity. This strategic move by the author essentially disarms the power of the miniskirt, and therefore disarms the power American culture has over Tan. The miniskirt becomes secondary to the mother’s lesson, as the author brings the lesson, rather than the skirt, with her as she matures and eventually realizes the significance of her mother’s words.