When attempting to gain insight on a different and unique culture, it is found that the emic perspective is extremely beneficial. The emic is a native's viewpoint of their culture. In the book and after viewing the movie to gain the perspective of the director, each character commentated on the events that took place during their lives. Lindo, who was the recipient of a faulty pre-arranged marriage, discussed her dislikes of the entire ordeal, while still being a submissive and respectful wife until she got out of the marriag

The role of family in the Chinese culture seems to have a great presence in one's life. Even when the family became spiteful and cruel, one was still expected to pay them respect and offer their obedience. For example, when Lindo was married, her mother-in-law was very unkind to her, blaming her for not having any grandsons when it was the husband who elected not to sleep with Lindo. The mother-in-law slapped her and spoke very harshly to her. Yet despite all that, she did what they wished of her. This signified the respect she had for her elders although the mother did not present herself as deserving of it. Even in the way Lindo spoke to the mother, never raising her voice or sometimes just keeping silent, it showed the power of elder family members as well as the ability of them abusing this power. This situation shows the gender stratification and age grade of the society. Due to the gender stratification the woman occupied a position of inferiority to men in the class and also different classes existed due to the age of individuals; elders having more power then the young.

The idea of marriage is well displayed in The Joy Luck Club. Everything from blind love, to pre-arrangement to polygamy are characterized as having an acceptable place in Chinese society.

An Mei and her daughter Rose were one day sitting together talking about the difficulties that Rose was going through in her marriage. As An Mei was listening, comforting her daughter, she said something that summed up how culture is truly engraved in a person regardless of how or where they are raised. "In the Chinese way, you are taught to desire nothing, to swallow other people's misery and to eat your own bitterness. Even though I taught you the opposite, you still came out the same way." As rich and mysterious as the Chinese culture appears from the outside, inside it has its skeletons.

By far, the pre-arranged marriage was the most unique and intriguing of the three. Arranged by her mother when she was five, Lindo lives out her childhood preparing for her wedding when she turned fifteen. Overly nourished, groomed properly, and maintaining a cheery disposition were the constant things her mother kept up with until the time of her wedding. When Lindo was finally of age, her mother, convinced that her duty regarding her daughter was done, took the remainder of her family and moved away, leaving her daughter to start her new life on her own. It was not until the night of her wedding when she saw her husband for the first time. It had become quite apparent that age is not a determining factor in Chinese arranged marriages, for her husband seemed as if he had not yet hit puberty. Regardless, she remained obedient to him as was expected of her,

Some common words found in the essay are:
Ying Ying, Luck Club, , China Wall, chinese culture, Joy Luck, luck club, ying ying, joy luck, joy luck club, seen ying ying, mei's mother, emic perspective, remaining widow, swan feather, pre-arranged marriage, blind love,
Approximate Word count = 1852
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)