Second-generation Chinese American youths face the dilemma of negotiating
between traditional Chinese culture and mainstream American culture. This
book explores this social issue through examinining their patterns of dating
attitudes and behaviors. Based on an analysis of 20 in-depth interviews, this
study finds that respondents use both Chinese and American lenses to
construct their dating attitudes and behaviors. Chinese and American dating
are constructed as oppositional among the respondents. When discussing
parents' roles, commitment, premarital sex, and gender expectations, the
second-generation Chinese American youths pick and choose from their
constructions of Chinese and American dating cultures. In so doing, they
attempts to present a positive image of themselves in front of both Chinese
and American dating cultures, thus invent a "positive" culture of dating. This
book is of interest to sociologists, psychologists, and relationship therapists
who are interested in Asian American youths.