Feminism in China

Feminism is relatively a new term that went popular during last 50 years. After thousands of years of suppression, women wanted to claim their rights that they believed should be equal to men. It is very interesting to take a review on feminism in China.

It is generally believed that women were subjects to men in ancient China. Well, this is partly true, especially after Song Dynasty when New-Confucianism came up holding the view that women should be kept from outdoors. This new kind of theory had its own social background, but there’s no denying that women suffered a lot by observing these rules. They were taught to obey their fathers, their husbands and their sons without freedom. Also they were banned from books and knowledge because “ignorance is the highest morality for women”. The only role they could play is, as quoted from the text, “the Angle in the house”. The social position of women didn’t get any better during the following dynasties. Foot-binding was invented in Qing Dynasty, which was one of the cruelest methods to control women in the world.

Last century has witnessed a major change in women’s role in society. The 1911 revolution, which overthrew Qing Dynasty and established Republic China, destroyed foot-binding and other feudal remains once and for all. Women were able to participate in politics or go to school now. A greater change took place in 1949, when People’s Republic of China was founded and Chairmen Mao declared the equality between men and women. But it is always difficult to break up a tradition and establish a new one. Even the leadership of the new country sometimes took it for granted that women should attend to their family and bear children for their husbands whatever their own wills were. So actually women didn’t play an equal role as men in society until the Reform and Opening-up in 1978. People all went to Shenzhen or Guangzhou to make their fortune regardless of their sex. The new leadership once said:” He who catches the mice is a good cat, whether he is black or white.” Fame and fortune began to be worshiped and old tradition was wash away. Women have eventually managed to show their talents in fields they like.

But during the last few years, a new term came up as “女权癌”, or “over-feminism”. Basically speaking, over-feminism believed that women should enjoy their rights without taking up social responsibilities. For example, traditionally speaking the bridegroom should buy his own house to marry his bride, and he should make money for the household. Over-feminists believed this practice shall be carried on and women should never worry about money which came from pockets of their husbands. But on the other hand traditionally speaking women should do the housecleaning or make dishes for the family. This over-feminists could not agree with. They would claim that women and men are equal and men should clean the house too. So we can see over-feminism is actually a double standard fallacy, where women would take all advantages without paying anything. But it is a pity that many people hold the same view now.

Feminism in China has made substantial progress now. But over-feminism is a threat to the real equality between men and women. I believe everyone should consider this issue carefully and make decisions after full thought.