The Woman Warrior is written by Chinese American author Maxine Hong Kingston. This memoir is a blend of perspectives, focusing mainly on Kingston’s personal experience as a first-generation Chinese American woman. The memoir expresses the inequality that minorities suffer by using a Chinese talk story, Kingston’s mom’s traditional thoughts, and Kingston’s first perspective. The five heroines in The Women Warrior face gender inequality through their individual ways; though their courage is laudable, it is ironic that they need this trait at all to access their rights.

Aunt and Moon Orchid have to unfairly take responsibility for their partners’ faults. Though their ability to face problems is courageous, it is ironic because their partners should be the ones to correct the problem. For aunt, she becomes a victim of gender discrimination: “She told the man, ‘I think I’m pregnant.’ He organized the raid against her.” Her lover doesn’t want to take the responsibility of having a baby. He ruins aunt’s house instead, resulting in aunt’s ostracism by her family and villagers who blame her as a source of misfortune. Eventually, aunt gives birth to the baby in silence and on her own to prevent besmirching her lover’s name. Though her ability to withstand such harsh treatment displays strength in her character, this is ironic because the man is supposed to take responsibility for the child with aunt together, rather than leaving her alone to take the blame. A similar irony is found in the story “At the Western Palace.” When Brave Orchid tries to persuade sister Moon Orchid to see her husband, Moon Orchid says: “I’m scared. I want to back to Hongkong.” Moon Orchid comes to San Francisco because she wants to stay with her husband, rather than receive monthly payments in China without his company. The ironic point is Moon Orchid is afraid she will be rejected by her husband. She also finds out that her husband has a second wife. In this situation, Moon Orchid’s husband should be the one panicking for his infidelity, rather than Moon Orchid fearing rejection and the need to return to Hong Kong. Even worse, Moon Orchid’s mental health eventually deteriorates due to her husband’s cheating.

Fa Mu Lan and the narrator’s Mom are heroines who choose to defy gender norms by entering careers that historically were staffed by men only. Fa Mu Lan practices martial arts for many years. When her father has been drafted by the army, she says, “No, father. I’ll take your place,” becoming the first female to fight in the war. Through her many efforts, she wins respect for females and proves that females are equal to males. What is ironic about her situation is that she has to prove her ability through an arduous process when everyone should have equal rights once born. Similarly, the narrator’s mom gains recognition when she starts studying in medical school. A female teacher compliments her, saying, “women have now been practicing medicine for about fifty years, … who complimented them for adding to their growing number and also for coming to a school that taught modern medicine.” The history of women practicing medicine is shorter and female doctors were few at the time of the story’s setting. Despite the rarity, the narrator’s mom performs exceedingly well in the school, which shows that women can perform as well as men. There is irony in women being complimented for entering medical school when it is typical for men because it is an indication of gender inequality.

The narrator herself expresses complaints about gender discrimination she suffers to her mother when her parents attempt matchmaking: “I can make a living and take care of myself. So you don’t have to find me a keeper who’s too dumb to know a bad bargain.” Everyone around her delivers the message that boys are better than girls. In the face of such inequality, the narrator demonstrates her courage in speaking out through lines of similar complaints. Despite her mother’s own battles against gender discrimination, it is ironic that the narrator’s mother doesn’t understand her when he vents her grievance and thinks her irrational. Because even the narrator’s family has the implicit belief that boys are better than girls, the narrator is forced to be vocal to fight for her rights.

In conclusion, the five heroines all have distinct experiences and personalities in the context of discrimination. Though their shared common trait of being courageous in the face of gender inequality is laudable, it is ironic that they must exhibit courage. There should be no inequalities between gender, and women should not have to make extra efforts to take their place in the world. People, regardless of gender, are equal, and women deserve more respect.