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Women in China

Women in China . East Asian Studies . Patriarchal . Traditional relationships Ruler— subject Father— son Husband– wife Confucianism order Women must obey fathers, husbands, sons . “Rights” . Could not pick spouse Could not initiate divorce Was discouraged from remarrying

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Women in China

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  1. Women in China East Asian Studies

  2. Patriarchal • Traditional relationships • Ruler— subject • Father— son • Husband– wife • Confucianism order • Women must obey fathers, husbands, sons

  3. “Rights” • Could not pick spouse • Could not initiate divorce • Was discouraged from remarrying • Could not inherit property or wealth • Could manage it for underage sons • Sometimes taken as concubines

  4. Admonitions for Women 1. Humility Humility defined the relative natural positions between the male and female sexes. Accordingly, the female was deemed to be the more diminutive of the two and naturally, the more humble. 2. Husband and Wife The sole role of a woman as a wife was to serve her husband. 3. Respect and Caution As defined by the yin-yang duality, in yang (men's hardness is his virtue) whereas in yin (women's weakness was an asset), husband and wife should mutually respect each other.

  5. Admonitions for Women 4. Womanly Qualifications Simply the qualifications deemed necessary for the ideal woman whether in her virtue, her type of work, or the words she uses (wifely virtue + wifely speech + wifely appearance + wifely work). 5. Whole-hearted Devotion This was usually depicted by the woman's devotion to the husband. For example, if the husband were to die, there would be no re-marriage for the widow. This was deemed to be the most virtuous task in later dynasties. 6. Implicit Obedience A section that is dedicated to obedience towards the mother and father-in-law. 7. Harmony Between Younger In-laws

  6. Concubines • Second wives, mistresses • Children were legitimate • Middle to upper class families would likely have concubines • Status symbol • Poorer families would only take on a concubine if no male heir came from original marriage

  7. Tang Dynasty • Considered “progressive” • Land distribution included widows • Mutual divorce and remarrying okay • More access to education • Some social restrictions lifted

  8. Tang Dynasty • Empress Wu Zetian (624-705) • Only female to rule alone • Very educated • Attracted scholars to court • Made many land reforms • Cruel, sadistic

  9. Footbinding • Origins unknown • Began in Tang, fully accepted by Song Dynasty • Small feet = beauty • lotus, lily feet

  10. Footbinding • Feet bound by ages 5-7, sometimes earlier • Process of breaking toes by binding with cloth

  11. Started with upper class girls • Why did it spread to other economic groups?

  12. Footbinding • Outlawed in 1912, after end of Qing Dynasty

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