2. Background
• Born 1934, in Oakland, CA.
• Parents – Chinese immigrants.
• Greatly affected by internment of Japanese
during WW II
• Worked as secretary for many years, started
writing poetry in 1970’s
• Did not attend college until in her 30’s –
studied at San Francisco State University
3. Background (cont.)
• Very active in feminist and socialist causes.
• Much of her poetry deal with these causes, as
well as with the Asian-American experience.
• “She often writes about the struggles and
strength of her family and other Asian Americans
who confront racism . . . Also exposes the sexism
Chinese American women confront, both from
the mainstream society and the Chinese
American community” (Yogi).
4. Work
(In addition to her activist work), Three books of
poetry:
• Dreams in Harrison Railroad Park (1977)
• The Death of Long Steam Lady (1986)
• Stolen Moments (1997)
• Has also edited books and worked in film.
5. “When I Was Growing Up”
• This poem examines contemporary,
“mainstream” views of beauty and sexuality
and the speaker’s desire to conform to those
standards.
• Explores themes of: Exoticism, Orientalism,
Sexuality, Confession, Escapism.
• Conversational tone with the reader.
6. Works Cited
• Wong, Nellie. “When I Was Growing Up.” Unsettling
America. Maria Mazziotti Gillan and Jennifer Gillan.
New York: Penguin Books. 1994. 55-57. Print
• Yogi, Stan. “Wong, Nellie.” Continuum Encyclopedia of
American Literature (2003): 1261. Literary Reference
Center Plus. Web. 19 Sept. 2013
• "Nellie Wong." UC Santa Barbara Library. UC Santa
Barbara, 2010. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
