Rewriting Chinese Stories: Gender in Chinese Translation of Amy Tan

Abstract

This article explores the intricate process of translating Chinese stories within the work of Chinese American women writers, focusing on Amy Tan. Tan navigates feminist themes by using and rewriting traditional Chinese stories within her novels The Joy Luck Club and The Kitchen God’s Wife. This can create challenges for her translators. Analysis looks at how translators ‘rewrite’ Tan, and uncovers some divergences between the work of male and female translators respectively, highlighting the influence of gender consciousness on translation practices. By examining the interplay between gender, culture, and translation, it underscores the role of gender in either perpetuating or challenging cultural and gender norms within translated texts.