Likewise, Kingston uses labels to show the similarities between her and her people. Arguing, “The swordsman and I are not so dissimilar. May my people understand the resemblance soon so that I can return to them. What we have in common are the words at our backs … And I have so many words- ‘chink’ words and ‘gook’ words too-that they do not fit on my skin.” (Kingston 53) She wants her people to see that they are similar because of the words on there backs. When she says the swordsman and I aren't so dissimilar, it shows that she does see the difference between them, which is that it's primarily a “man's job.” This shows that she has accepted that she is a female. This is similar to when Fa Mu Lan reveals her female identity before killing the Baron, showing that she accepted being a female. This also shows that she is looking in the perspective of Fa Mu Lan. When she is comparing herself to something that is known for being a “man’s job”, but she says that they're not so
Likewise, Kingston uses labels to show the similarities between her and her people. Arguing, “The swordsman and I are not so dissimilar. May my people understand the resemblance soon so that I can return to them. What we have in common are the words at our backs … And I have so many words- ‘chink’ words and ‘gook’ words too-that they do not fit on my skin.” (Kingston 53) She wants her people to see that they are similar because of the words on there backs. When she says the swordsman and I aren't so dissimilar, it shows that she does see the difference between them, which is that it's primarily a “man's job.” This shows that she has accepted that she is a female. This is similar to when Fa Mu Lan reveals her female identity before killing the Baron, showing that she accepted being a female. This also shows that she is looking in the perspective of Fa Mu Lan. When she is comparing herself to something that is known for being a “man’s job”, but she says that they're not so