Title: Women's Place in Family and Society: Social Transformation and Gender Relations in China
Abstract: AbstractThe economic reform in China has boosted production iniatives and raised the people's living standards in a short time. In the name of efficiency, however, this has pushed women to front line of social transition. Priority for profitability has displaced women from their employment, education and decision making, and the deduction in women's power has endangered women's perception of their own value. Gender relations have become more complicated as social and gender hierarchies are being reconstructed. This paper aims to explain the complexity of the women's question in this transitional period and to understand the impact on women's subordination. It concludes that women's position will deteriorate if the gender hierarchy is reconstructed. Consciousness-raising among the intelligentsia, state intervention, and the culture of women's protest against gender inequality must be strengthened to halt the process of reinforcing patriarchy.We are women. We are even more deeply immersed in an ocean of suffering! We are also human beings, so why won't they let us take part in politics? We are also human beings, so why won't they let us participate in social intercourse? We are gathered together in our various separate dens, and we are not even allowed to go outside the front gate. The shameless men, the villainous men, make us into their playthings, and force us to prostitute ourselves to them indefinitely. The devils, who destroy the freedom of love! The devils, who destroy the sacredness of love! They keep us surrounded all day long, but so-called "chastity" is confined to us women! The "temples to virtuous women" are scattered all over the place, but where are the "pagodas to chaste men"? Among us there are some who are gathered together in schools for women, but those who teach us there are also a bunch of shameless and villainous men. All day long they talk about something called being "a worthy mother and a good wife." What is this but teaching us to prostitute ourselves indefinitely to the same man? They are afraid that we will not allow ourselves to be fettered, so they intensify their indoctrination. O bitterness! Bitterness! Spirit of freedom! Where are you? Come quickly and save us! Today we are awakened!…We want to sweep away all those devils who rape us and destroy the liberty of our minds and of our bodies!——Mao Tse-tung, "The Great Union of the Popular Masses," 1919.
Publication Year: 1996
Publication Date: 1996-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 1
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