Seite 167 [167]
MALE-FEMALE RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS CULTURES...
Cognitive consistency versus context contingency
As for cognitive consistency versus context contingency, Mary/Yu-Rhee’s
interaction with Mr. Allen/Will demonstrates how she acquires cognitive
consistency in her love life.
At the beginning of her relationship with Mr. Allen/ Will, context contin¬
gency dominates in her behavior, for which I will provide two examples.
One example is her comment on his writing: “His last story — one [d
proofread and told him was brilliant even if it wasn’t [...] — had been trashed
during a creative-writing workshop.”** Contrary to Mr. Allen’s girlfriend, Yuki,
Mary/Yu-Rhee encourages him to engage in the activity, which he believes
enables his self-realization in spite of the fact that she is conscious of the
inferior quality of a recent piece he has produced. In her effort to encourage
him, she conceals her real opinion of his writing from him.
Also, when Mary/Yu-Rhee is travelling with Mr. Allen/Will, she overhears
the waitresses at the roadside restaurant asking: “Why’s a handsome guy
like him wasting his time with a skinny little Oriental?”** Even though she
is greatly hurt, she keeps quiet about what has happened: “I couldn’t shake
the comments the waitresses had made. I’d snatched back the tip Will had
left though I’d done it behind his back.”?‘ She does not want Will to feel
uncomfortable so she decides to settle the issue on her own.
However, astheir relationship advances, the Western influence manifesting
in cognitive consistent behavior becomes observable in Mary/Yu-Rhee.
A revealing incident is when she decides to break up with him: “Cut your own
damn cake,’ I blurted out. [...] ‘Did it ever dawn on you that I have problems
of my own?””?”
Furthermore, after this incident, Mary/Yu-Rhee becomes aware of the
change in her: “My initial shock was replaced with disappointment, and a
realization. [...] The old me would have said I was sorry, because that was my
default response to everything, but now, as I stood in the doorway, what came
to me was a sweet relief.”**
34 Tbid., 158.
35 Ibid., 186.
36 Ibid., 187.
37 Ibid., 251.
38 Ibid., 253.