Silence, often imposed as a form of invisibility, plays a significant role in the works of Chinese American women writers like Maxine Hong Kingston and Amy Tan. Both authors navigate the complexities of existing between two distinct cultural worlds – the Chinese heritage of their parents and the American society in which they were raised. This creates a unique predicament for these 'ABC' (American-born Chinese) daughters, who are expected to conform to American standards while often experiencing marginalization as minority women. Previous research on Kingston and Tan has largely focused on matrilineal traditions, reflections on ancestral homelands, and identity formation within the context of immigration. This study, however, shifts the focus to the pervasive theme of silence, analyzing how it articulates the underlying gender, racial, and cultural conflicts. The central argument is that silence is not merely an absence of communication, but a potent force that reveals hidden conflicts. The paper will explore how breaking this silence and fostering communication, particularly through the construction of intersubjectivity as defined by Jessica Benjamin, is essential for resolving the conflicts portrayed in the novels. Benjamin's theory of intersubjectivity is pivotal because it addresses the problem of defining the 'other' as an object, emphasizing instead the importance of recognizing the other as a separate and equivalent subject. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of the dynamic interplay between individual subjectivity and the shared space of intersubjectivity, which is crucial for overcoming the barriers created by silence and achieving meaningful communication.

Existing scholarship on Kingston and Tan predominantly examines matrilineal traditions (Lindenmeyer, 2001; Bhattacharya, 2019), the relationship between their works and their ancestral homelands/immigration experiences (Wai-sum, 2008; Chandra, 2009), and the intersection of oceanic, mobility and Chinese American studies (Poppenhagen, 2023). However, these studies do not fully address the pervasive use of silence and its implications for understanding the conflicts depicted in their narratives. This paper bridges this gap by focusing on silence as an indicator of unresolved conflicts related to gender, race, and culture, drawing upon relevant theoretical frameworks from communication studies and psychoanalysis to provide a novel interpretation of these significant works.

This paper employs a close reading approach, analyzing the instances of silence and their contexts within Maxine Hong Kingston's *The Woman Warrior* and Amy Tan's *The Kitchen God's Wife*. The analysis focuses on how silence manifests as a consequence of gender inequality, racial discrimination, and cultural differences. The paper utilizes Jessica Benjamin's theory of intersubjectivity as a lens for interpreting the characters' interactions and their attempts to overcome the barriers created by silence. Benjamin's framework, rooted in psychoanalytic theory, highlights the significance of recognizing the 'other' as an independent subject with their own perspectives and desires. This recognition, according to Benjamin, is essential for constructing a shared space of intersubjectivity where meaningful communication and reconciliation can occur. The paper meticulously examines specific instances of silence within the narratives, linking these silences to the broader societal forces that shape the characters' experiences. For instance, the silence surrounding the unnamed aunt in *The Woman Warrior* is interpreted as a reflection of patriarchal norms and the suppression of women's voices. Similarly, the silences between Winnie and her daughter in *The Kitchen God's Wife* are analyzed as manifestations of the cultural and generational gap between the mother's traditional Chinese values and the daughter's American upbringing. The analysis proceeds by illustrating how the characters' eventual breaking of silence and their attempts to achieve intersubjectivity represent significant steps towards resolving the conflicts they face. This involves exploring the characters' journeys towards self-discovery and their increased capacity to empathize with and understand the perspectives of others. By applying Benjamin's framework, the paper demonstrates how achieving intersubjectivity, while challenging, offers a pathway towards resolving the conflicts arising from gender, race, and culture.

The paper identifies several key ways in which silence functions within the narratives: 1. **Gender Conflicts:** The silence of women in both novels is linked to patriarchal structures that suppress female voices and agency. In *The Woman Warrior*, the silence surrounding the aunt's fate reflects the family's complicity in patriarchal oppression. Winnie's silence about her husband's abuse in *The Kitchen God's Wife* reflects her internalized sense of powerlessness within a patriarchal society. 2. **Racial Conflicts:** The silence of Chinese American girls in American schools and their hushed tones in front of racist authority figures in *The Woman Warrior* reveal the experience of racial marginalization and the challenges of navigating a predominantly white society. 3. **Cultural Conflicts:** The communication barriers between mothers and daughters in both novels highlight the cultural chasm between the older generation's adherence to traditional Chinese values and the younger generation's assimilation into American culture. The inability to bridge this cultural gap contributes to the silences and misunderstandings. The paper argues that overcoming these conflicts requires more than merely breaking the silence; it necessitates the construction of intersubjectivity. Several key aspects of this process are highlighted: 1. **Breaking Silence:** The act of speaking out against oppression, sharing traumatic experiences, and challenging patriarchal norms is a necessary first step. This is demonstrated by the narrator's eventual self-expression in *The Woman Warrior* and Winnie's decision to confront her past in *The Kitchen God's Wife*. 2. **Constructing Subjectivity:** This involves the characters' journeys towards self-discovery and the recognition of their own agency and worth. The narrator's realization of her own capabilities and Winnie's newfound independence exemplify this. 3. **Achieving Intersubjectivity:** This crucial stage involves recognizing the other – be it a partner, parent, or member of a different culture – as a separate and equal subject with their own valid experiences and perspectives. The evolving relationships between the mothers and daughters demonstrate this, culminating in a greater understanding and acceptance of their differences. The paper uses examples from both texts to show how the characters' journey from silence to communication involves confronting the impacts of patriarchy, racism, and cultural differences, ultimately leading to a better understanding of themselves and their relationships with others.

The findings of this study demonstrate that silence in *The Woman Warrior* and *The Kitchen God's Wife* is not simply a lack of communication, but rather a complex symptom reflecting underlying societal conflicts. The analysis reveals that merely breaking the silence is insufficient for resolving these conflicts. The construction of intersubjectivity, as outlined by Jessica Benjamin, provides a valuable framework for understanding the characters' journeys toward reconciliation. By recognizing and acknowledging the other as a separate and equal subject, the characters are able to move beyond the limitations imposed by silence and establish more meaningful relationships. The implications of this study extend beyond the literary analysis of these two novels. It highlights the importance of intersubjectivity in addressing conflict arising from gender inequality, racial discrimination, and intercultural misunderstandings. The paper contributes to ongoing discussions about the role of communication, empathy, and mutual recognition in fostering social justice and creating more equitable and inclusive societies.

This paper demonstrates that resolving the conflicts of gender, race, and culture depicted in *The Woman Warrior* and *The Kitchen God's Wife* requires breaking the silence and constructing intersubjectivity. This involves a multi-faceted process encompassing self-discovery, acknowledging the validity of others' experiences, and fostering meaningful communication based on mutual respect and recognition. Future research could explore the broader applications of Benjamin's intersubjectivity framework to other literary works or real-world scenarios involving conflict resolution, particularly in intercultural contexts.

This study focuses primarily on two novels by Chinese American women writers. While the findings offer valuable insights into the dynamics of silence and intersubjectivity, the generalizability of these insights to other contexts might be limited. Further research is needed to examine the universality of the observed patterns across diverse cultural and societal settings.