This tragedy awakens in Jessica the memories of her own college years when she was suffering from the same disorder. Through narration and flashbacks, the audience sees what women with these disorders go through and the ways in which their lives are forever changed. Shang based Jessica's story both on the data that she gathered in her literature search and on reallife events experienced by the women that she interviewed. It's a subtle delivery, but I hope a message with a big impact. Shang wants her peers to recognize the elements of Asian culture that affect the occurrence of eating disorders.
American woman is petite, delicate.
Many women feel pressure to fit into that mold, even at the risk of their health. Shang found that a lot of this pressure can come from mothers, especially in traditional families. With a focus on family and image, girls do not learn to value themselves, to love themselves for who they are rather than for what they look like. Shang hopes that her play will also demonstrate what she sees as an urgent need for culturally sensitive counseling for Asian-American women. One scene from the play depicts the lumping together of different Asian cultures.