Chan, Carolyn
Over 130 interviews with Chinese Canadian women were conducted for the book Jin Guo: Voices of Chinese Canadian Women. Produced in 1992 by the Women’s Book Committee of the Chinese Canadian National Council, Jin Guo was intended to fill the gap in historical accounts of Chinese Canadian women’s history. Researchers traveled across Canada to interview Chinese Canadian women of various ages and backgrounds. The book’s authors, Amy Go, Winnie Ng, Dora Nipp, Julia Tao, Terry Woo and May Yee, organized the book around themes and patterns that emerged across multiple interviews – feelings of isolation and culture shock upon arrival in Canada, memories of parent-child relationships, the importance of education, the working lives of women, discrimination, cultural identity, marriage and dating, family life, perspectives on aging and retirement, and examples community activism. The interviews conducted for this project are stored at the Multicultural History Society of Ontario’s archives. This collections database includes a large cross-section of interviews conducted for Jin Guo – in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
In a two-part interview, 26 year-old Carolyn Chan discusses growing up in St. John’s, New Brunswick, the influences of her Chinese heritage, and experiences of racial discrimination while in grade school. Carolyn attributes the prejudice of her grade school peers and fellow students to their belief that she is Chinese first, and Canadian second. She goes on to say that it was difficult for her to make friends in elementary school.
Carolyn fondly remembers a trip she took to China with her father as a young adult, noting its impact on her understanding of Chinese culture and traditions (which were practised at home by her parents). That experience resulted in Carolyn returning to China, where she taught English for six months. Reflecting on her identity, Carolyn notes that she is perceived as Chinese in Canada and a foreigner when she is in China. Carolyn also briefly comments on the differences between Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Carolyn characterizes her mother as “very liberal,” but goes on to explain her mother’s traditional views on gender roles. She talks about her family’s history, noting that her grandfather helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway. She also speaks about her family’s educational backgrounds, including her own degrees in Science and Education. Carolyn describes work in her family’s restaurant business and her goal to teach elementary school.
Although Carolyn was childless at the time of the interview, she expresses hope that her future children would be accepted in Canada, and could value their Chinese heritage. Carolyn also notes the importance of having an education in Chinese culture and traditions, adding that it is her intention to have her children attend Chinese school.
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