American Panda

Content Warning: This section discusses anti-Asian racism and cultural stereotypes, familial pressure and conflict, and identity struggles, including references to body shaming. It also briefly mentions anti-gay bias.

Mei Lu is a 17-year-old college freshman studying premed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Mei is having dinner with her parents at their favorite Taiwanese restaurant, Chow Chow. Mei’s traditional Taiwanese mother, whom she calls Mama Lu, criticizes Mei’s behavior and appearance, but Mei endures it. A family friend, Mrs. Pan, comes over to their table and tells Mei that her big nose is a Chinese good-luck omen meaning that she will be wealthy. Mama Lu brags about Mei to Mrs. Pan, which Mei enjoys because it’s the only praise her parents ever give her. Mrs. Pan tries to matchmake Mei with her son Hanwei, but Mei’s mother falsely claims that Mei already has plenty of suitors. Mrs. Pan tries asking about Mei’s brother, Xing, but Mama Lu ignores her until she leaves. Mama Lu tells Mei that she is too good for Hanwei and compares him to Ying-Na, a Taiwanese American “cautionary tale” used by parents to scare their children into obedience. Her mother claims that she is proud that Mei will become a doctor but criticizes her plus-sized body.