Gender Roles in China

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For a country which has thousands of years of history, China, like majority society in the world, still remains some kind of patriarchy and it is continuously affecting the gender roles in China and all around the world. As a person who born and raise in China, I evidenced how gender roles alter with the development of China. Gender Roles in Early China (From Han Dynasty to Republic of China) There is no doubt that males have a very dominant social status in China, and this phenomena is even more evident in early period of China due to the strictly hierarchical from of society which is highly influenced by Confucianism (Richey). Confucianism has a very specific ethical structure and rules, such as “subordinates should serve and be loyal to supervisors (or emperors); children should serve and be loyal to parents; wives should be loyal and serve husbands”, which is called “San Gang (Three Cardinal Guides)” and followed by ancient people for hundred of years. In a meantime, women in ancient China cannot participate in election, nor involve political activities—their main job is taking care of their husbands and children, doing housework and cook for their family (Huang, Anderulis and Chen). There are other means to restrict women: binding feet is also one of the popular Confucian ways to control and dominate women in ancient China, because such inhumane action can reduce women’s mobility therefore they can be more loyal to their husbands. Hence, the social status of women in ancient China is extremely inferior and such “philosophy” still influences present Chinese gender roles. Gender Roles in People’s Republic of China (Form 1949-Present) Gender roles also changed for multiple times since the establishment of People’s Republic of C... ... middle of paper ... ...10 Population Census[1] (No. 1)." Communiqué of the National Bureau of Statistics of People's Republic of China on Major Figures of the 2010 Population Census[1] (No. 1). National Bureau of Statistics of China, 28 Apr. 2011. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. Hatten, Kristen Walker. "200 Million Girls Killed in China, Where Are the Feminists?" LifeNews.com. LifeNews.com, 12 Nov. 2012. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. Huang, Quanyu, Richard S. Andrulis, and Tong Chen. A Guide to Successful Business Relations with the Chinese: Opening the Great Wall's Gate. Binghamton, NY: International Business, 1994. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. Keshena, Enaemaehkiw Túpac. "The Cultural Revolution & The Struggle to Liberate Women." The Speed of Dreams Since 1492. N.p., 3 Mar. 2012. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. Richy, Jeffery. "Religion Library: Confucianism." Gender and Sexuality. Avalon Consulting, LLC, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.

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