Women, Gender and Chinese Women - Article Example

Running Header: Gender & Chinese Women Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Name & Code: Date of Submission: Gender & Chinese Women Women in china occupied a degraded and a low status within society in the past. They were customarily allocated less crucial and most despised posts and careers. This oppression of women has been going on for years from all aspects of life and entire community. However, the republic of China has put a lot of emphasizes on the significance of women triumphing over the historical oppression and injustices as argued by You-tien, (2009, p. 98). Government of Chinese Republic has adopted various policies that aim at emancipating women. The traditional view of the roles of women still applies power on some current society. They have been many inequalities on women in Chinese society in terms of collectivism of tasks that tied women at their homes. There has been massive inequality on the domestic tasks within households as well as equal pay on the women. However, this has since changed in the modern Chinese society with women realizing their rights and joining the fields that were once believed to be controlled by men. Communism and westernization drastically changed the way of doing things as well as their roles in society. However, after sometimes, their roles in society started changing due to communism that had started invading. Western ideas and influence started changing the ways women were being treated. They started receiving the same respect and treatment as men. The essay will highlight on how Chinese women were presented in the society and the way they were portrayed in the past and in the modern times. The essay will discuss the attitude and the understanding of women by the Chinese society. This essay explores around the identities, roles, and opportunities of women from traditional China to modern world. It clearly shows the difference between traditional and modern society on how women were portrayed by society. This setting has a lot of influence on the way women are treated from the tradition society to modern one. It will also look on how Chinese women are treated and how the settings influence the treatment of women. Various published scholarship argues that people do not place the values of women at a better place in society. Are there changes on the way women in China were presented in past and currently in society? Do these settings influence the treatment of women in China currently? Anne (2004, p. 78) argues that male domination has been prominent in China since 1900’s with massive deprivation of rights in women. The feudal patriarchal system had several millennia of oppression that imposed a grave impact on Chinese women. Women were considered as inferior to men in economic, political, cultural, and social life. Women have been known to be servers of men and even in some occasions as concubines. Females were prepared on how to serve their husband from their infancy age in Chinese society. According to Margery, Roxane & Emily (1975, p. 124), Chinese women lived a difficult and slow life that was bound by obedience and traditions. Women had to bind their feet at birth failure to which they would face adversity in the rest of their life. Foot binding was a process that was painful whereby women were allowed to be thought as good and beautiful future wives. Throughout their life, Chinese women suffered heartache and pain as they were considered nothing and of less important to the society. This was due to the high value that was given to boys as they were considered the people who shall retain the name of the family while the girls will be married elsewhere. Australian National University & Contemporary China Center (2007, p. 60), the view of women as inferior part of society starts the moment they are born as their umbilical cords were buried outside, as it was believed that one day she would move away by getting married. On contrast, the boy’s umbilical cord was saved in a jar as a sign that he was to stay hence the need for his respect and value. The society did not find the need of educating the girl but they saw her as a person who should play the role of a slave or servant doing everything in society. There were faced with high possibility of being aborted, as there was no money or time to care for her. The girls were forced to undertake all chores at home with no time to rest. Furthermore, a husband could have brought a prostitute or concubine at home, the wife was not expected to display any feelings or show any sign of jealousy. In case the wife showed any sign of jealousy, then the husband would have requested for a divorce. William & Richard (2001, p. 145), the view on women was such extensive in that, even after death, women were believed to go to “the shadow world.” The shadow world had a negative essence with deep and motionless things. The “light world” was male; it was believed to have a positive essence with high and strong things. Men enjoyed happiness while women endured agony. Women were complied with the rules of filial piety by family and society. They accepted that their life and bodies were not their own but presents from their parents. According to American Oriental Society (2009, p. 34), Women were supposed to inform their parents whenever they were going and what they did as well as asking for permission on the crucial decisions that they wanted to make. Women never entered or left their fathers’ vicinity unless given permission to do that. Girls were only supposed to speak after they were spoken to as well as anticipating the wish of their fathers. They even thanked their fathers for their corrections whenever they were scolded. In marriage, love was not the deciding factor but rather their parents promised the women to other families without objection. After marriage, husband and in-laws were in power over her. The relationship with the in-laws was more crucial than she had with her husband. The in-laws supervised the child upbringing with the mother only tending the baby only. The child belonged to the in-laws and not the mother. They were not supposed to re-marry; they enjoyed no freedom in marriage as illustrated by Ping-Chun, Maria & Cecilia (2001, p. 87). They were totally subjected to mental and physical torture. There were totally harassed by the society and system of polygamy. China Organizations argues that in society where they had no decision or power, foot binding held the women to the society traditions. There is no clear information where foot biding originated. The traditional society presented women as inferior and who have no value in the society. However, this has changed drastically on the view and perspectives the society had on women. They had no political rights and they were totally excluded from political and social life. They were denied and robbed inheritance and property rights by the society. They had no independent income sources. The lack of economic freedom forced them obey their fathers before marriage and their husbands after marriage. They were totally denied independent rights or personal dignity as well as rights to receive education or take part in social activities. Jie, Bijun & Shirley (2004, p. 90) argues that the rise of communism in society ended the old ways moving the society into a socialist one. The rise of communism in Chinese society changed the purpose of women radically. Women started having the same level of education as their fellow men. They started getting university education learning all types of studies including sciences. This way paved way for women careers in banking, medicine, and business. It was now expected that women would make something out of them. The society went ahead to ban sale of children, polygamy, bound feet, and concubinage. According to Nicola & Cecilia (2006, p. 154), Communism changed women into becoming more involved with in many aspects of Chinese society. These include business, government, and culture. The rights of women and their position in society were becoming more realized. The families ceased to be composed of in-laws but only husbands, wives, and their children. Divorce became common with women opting to leave their marriage back to their homes without returning. Women were now capable of finding the man of their choice without influence or being forced by anyone. Divorce allowed them to walk away from the family they had no emotion for living their own free life and independent. Women appearance in society changed to an extent that they wore what they wanted. There was massive change of hairstyle, appearance, and clothing. They adopted and opted for modern type of wearing such as knee-length skirts and white gauze shirts. Chinese women started getting necessary and vital roles in society. They started contributing towards successful decision making as well as ensuring the society was functioning effectively. Although society had now realized their role and their rights in society, society was still attached to the beliefs that women had no position in society. Government realized that the traditional beliefs and customs could no longer work for modern and educated women who had realized their rights. The beliefs and culture on women has changed and differentiated it with the past. The view of women in Chinese society has changed with them becoming free of oppression and enslavement as illustrated by Payne Educational Sociology, (2003, p. 50). This is totally changing the view of Chinese society on women. However, there still some small aspects of customs which do not give enough attention to the importance of girls. Equal opportunities have been offered to women in terms of education and work. They have been given equal rights in their places of work through legislation. The society has realized the importance of women in society giving them a chance to get anything they want to pursue in the society. The status of women in the current Chinese society has greatly improved. Despite all the efforts by women to fight for their rights and better position in society, they are still some issues that have been raised by status of Chinese women report. It has stated that women are not well represented in various bodies of policymaking. It also claims that women are still being treated unfairly in terms of promotion, education, and employment. It is also claiming that there is regional disparity for the improvement of women’s well being with women being the hardest hit by poverty as well as being largest victims of commercial smuggling. The report also says that the male dominated tradition still exists in some rural regions. This makes women have some difficulties inheriting properties including land. There has been significant rise in the number of boys as compared to girls with boys being more by 18 million at the age of 1-14 years. This is likely to raise the perception that society has on women as they get less than their male counterparts do. This may completely change the view of women as they become scarce and threatened. The modern government has realized the importance of gender equality as part of the basic state policy. This is seen as an essential to healthy social development of society. As women receive a different view in society, several women organizations have emerged to for fighting and changing the attitude and view on women by the society. Such one such organization of helping women in china is Chinese women’s association. This is the largest NGO in republic of China with branches all China. This is a clear indication of how women have been able to realize their position in society. It shows how society has accepted the role and position of women in China. This has greatly influenced the fight for more rights by women. It has as well influenced the society thinking about women greatly, this is greatly giving more respect to women as the society perception changes. With increasing growth of Chinese economy and urbanization, women’s conditions are being improved greatly. Jennifer (2007) argues that, in China, the society has realized that women are gauge of tradition and modernity. The society realized that the oppression to women by tradition society was a major barrier towards advancement to modernity and national strength. This led to professional and government to pay a lot of attention to women’s position in society. This was in trying to make traditional woman a modern citizen with greater contributions to the success of society and government. This great influence by society and government has made women try to look for new ways of defining their roles through their participation in various opportunities like education, practicing sexual liberation, trying to express their views in literature, as well as having a say in selecting their spouses. However, the traditional gender roles and structures were difficult to get away from with many women inspiring to a modern identity facing greater challenges structurally and culturally. According to Dorothy (2005, p. 57), there have been increased ties between the state and women as intellectuals and the state have formulated it. This made all the energy to be transformed towards cultural change on the perception the society had on women. Women ensured that this transformation was carried out in enabling them achieve and contribute to the society. This is as they tried to portray their capability and position in the society. Society and Government realized that changing the roles and perception on women could have a great impact on economy and China development. This assisted towards breaking down the ties that China had with traditions. Keeping women at home was seen as untapped source of productivity or labor for emerging modern economy or society. This led to creating of a new woman who would be a citizen and contribute to China development economically and in terms of labor. Mechthild (2002, p. 142) argues that Chinese women are currently portrayed as capable and professional people in society who contribute greatly towards success of economy and society in general. They are currently portrayed as the people who have the right to share and have anything ranging from education to careers. Women in the current Chinese society are now portrayed as excellent performers who contribute towards the growth of economy in China. The women are now competing for various positions that were initially thought to be for men. Such positions include administration positions and other careers like engineering, nursing, and law careers. Massachusetts Medical Society & New England Society (2009, p. 415) argues that the women in the current China have clearly rose to a higher level in society after realizing and practicing their rights. They have left and ignored the old customs and culture that discriminated and discouraged them in participating towards developing the society as well as playing part in the economy growth. This great rise of Chinese women has led to great influence in society. This has made society to respect their dignity in society. The society has been influenced to encourage women in China towards exploring more into other areas that were initially believed to be men’s field. The rise of women in China has also led to more respect in terms of their career, positions, and education for women. The women’s position in marriage has also been respected and realized comparing to old times. The rise of women and their increased position in society has enabled them gain more respect and equality like their male counterparts. There is increased respect for women as they strive to compete with men even in high careers. Conclusion Inequalities on women in Chinese society were very high in terms of roles that women were supposed to undertake in society and at their homes. However, Communism and westernization have played a key role towards transforming the perceptions of their role in society. Women were deprived their rights in ancient China with males dominating every aspect of the society. Men were portrayed as experts and superiors in economic, political, cultural, and social life with women regarded as inferior. Obedience and traditions were the main factors that controlled the life of women in ancient China; this made them to live a complicated and slow life. This made Chinese women suffer heartache and pain as they were considered nothing and of less significant to the public. The education to the girl child was not considered and she was only considered a servant to serve man in society doing everything. The women were forced to do all tasks at the house with no time to relax. Love was not the deciding aspect in marriage between a man and a woman but rather their parents promised the girls to other families without opposition. Girls were absolutely subjected to mental and physical torture, as they were not given any chance to express themselves or participate in anything in society. Women in the Chinese traditional society were seen as inferior and who had no value. They had no rights of participating in politics and they were absolutely disqualified from political and social life. They had no inheritance and possessions rights in their society as well as independent income sources. They were completely deprived of independent and education rights or taking part in social activities. The rise of communism in Chinese society changed the purpose and view on women drastically. This opened a way for women to careers in banking, medicine, and business. It was now expected that women would earn and participate in various functions of society. The women rights and their place in society were becoming more realized. Chinese women started getting essential and crucial responsibility in society. They started contributing towards triumphant decision making of the society. The beliefs and culture on women in China has changed with time. Women have become free of oppression and enslavement that once filled their society. The modern government has appreciated the significance of gender equality as part of the essential state policy. This is crucial towards a healthy social development of Chinese society. In China, the society has appreciated that women are determiners of tradition and modernity. The society realized that the cruelty to women by tradition customs and beliefs was a major obstruction towards progression to modernity and national power. There have been increased ties between the state and women as scholars and the state have formulated it. This made all the power to be altered towards change of culture on the opinion the society had on women. There is need for various groups and NGOs to fight for more rights of women as well as informing the society on the crucial role that woman play in society. The society has changed drastically on the way the women are treated and respected in Chinese society. There has been great transformation from the way the women were treated in ancient past and now. The change in the way women are treated is influencing the society towards wanting the need to treat women with more respect and giving them equal chances as others in society. References American Oriental Society 2009, ‘Chinese women in society’, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 22-56. Anne, E 2004, Chinese women, living and working, Routledge, New York. Australian National University & Contemporary China Center 2007, ‘Chinese position in society’, The Australian journal of Chinese affairs, Vol. 45, no. 5, pp. 56-69. China Organizations n.d., Historical liberation of Chinese women. Viewed 21 October 2010, http://www.china.org.cn/e-white/chinesewoman/11-2.htm Dorothy, K 2005, ‘Chinese Culture,’ Journal of Chinese philosophy, Vol. 32, no. 6, pp. 45-67. Jennifer, R 2007, Chinese women and modernity, Viewed 21 October 2010, http://www.exeas.org/resources/chinese-women-modernity.html Jie, T., Bijun, Z & Shirley, L 2004, Holding up half the sky: Chinese women past, present, and future, Feminist Press, Michigan. Margery, W., Roxane, W. & Emily, M 1975, Women in Chinese society, Stanford University Press, Stanford. Massachusetts Medical Society & New England Society 2009, ‘Education and careers in women’, Boston medical and surgical Journal, vol. 29, no. 12, pp. 410-420. Mechthild, L 2002, The Chinese revolution in the 1920s: between triumph and disaster, Routledge, New York. Nicola, S & Cecilia, N 2006, Women and gender in Chinese studies, LIT Verlag Munster, California. Payne Educational Sociology 2003, ‘Women in Chinese Society’, The Journal of educational sociology, vol. 35, no. 7, pp. 45-78. Ping-Chun, H., Maria, J & Cecilia, N 2001, Chinese women organizing cadres, feminists, Muslims, queers, Berg Publishers, New Jersey. William, T & Richard, J 2001, Sources of Chinese Tradition: From 1600 Through the Twentieth Century, Columbia University Press, Columbia. You-tien, H 2009, Reclaiming Chinese society: the new social activism, Taylor & Francis, New York. Read More