| Acknowledgements | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract | 第5-7页 |
| 摘要 | 第7-11页 |
| Introduction | 第11-17页 |
| Chapter One Ethnic Essentialism | 第17-29页 |
| ·Stereotype, Manifestation of Ethnic Essentialism | 第17-18页 |
| ·“Bad”Stereotypes in Early Days | 第18-21页 |
| ·Depiction of Negative Stereotypes of Early Chinese Immigrants | 第18-20页 |
| ·Reasons Contributing to the Formation of Negative Images | 第20-21页 |
| ·“Good”Stereotypes in Modern Times | 第21-26页 |
| ·“Model Minority”, a Seemingly Positive Image | 第21-23页 |
| ·“Model Minority”, another Essentialized Label on Asians | 第23-26页 |
| ·Interchangeability between the “Good”and the “Bad” | 第26-29页 |
| Chapter Two Deconstruction of Ethnic Essentialism | 第29-49页 |
| ·Deconstruction of Patriarchy--an Essential Element to Chinese Community | 第31-38页 |
| ·Chinatown, a Conventional Setting in Narratives | 第31-33页 |
| ·Deconstruction of Patriarchy via Reconstructing Patriarchy | 第33-38页 |
| ·Absence of Traditional Chinese Patriarchy | 第33-34页 |
| ·Reconstruction of Patriarchy | 第34-38页 |
| ·An Ingeniously Conceived Plot—A Controversial “Model Minority” | 第38-44页 |
| ·Construction of “Model Minority” in Jen’s novels | 第38-40页 |
| ·Deconstruction of “Model Minority”in Jen’s Novels | 第40-44页 |
| ·Work Ethic—the Only Way Out of Difficulties | 第40-42页 |
| ·Thrift--the Only Alternative to Retain Stability | 第42-44页 |
| ·Paradoxical Roles --Females in Jen’s Novels | 第44-49页 |
| ·Helen | 第44-46页 |
| ·Theresa | 第46-49页 |
| Chapter Three Redefinition of American Identity | 第49-62页 |
| ·Ethnicity, Race, Racism | 第49-52页 |
| ·Invention of Ethnicity | 第52-57页 |
| ·Mona | 第53-54页 |
| ·Callie | 第54-55页 |
| ·Helen and Ralph | 第55-56页 |
| ·Other Ethnic Groups | 第56-57页 |
| ·Redefining American Identity | 第57-62页 |
| ·Subversion of Conventional American Identity | 第57-58页 |
| ·Redefinition of American Identity | 第58-62页 |
| Conclusion | 第62-65页 |
| Work Cited | 第65-69页 |
