Journal Entry
by Marty Bock

Gender Issues In China:

Historically, women have had few, if any rights, in what one may call traditional (Han) Chinese culture. A feudal society for thousands of years, China has consistently placed women in a subordinate position. There was no independent women’s movement until recently. (The following is a general overview taken from my journal entries and observations on the Yale Field Study, “China In Transition,” Summer 2005.
Hopefully, it will point the way for further and more complete research.)

Maoist Era: 1945-1978

Even after the Communists came to power during the 1940’s, women were subordinate to men. It was men who were recreating society and imposing their ideas on women. According to this view, women needed to be strong to help build a strong communist society. During this period, individual women were not protesting for equal rights. Even women who joined the revolution worked at the behest of men. Because of the uncertainty caused by the Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists, many women clung to their traditional ways. For example, some women continued to bind their feet and their daughters’ feet. Some ran away from the revolutionary forces. After the Communist victory in 1949, women supposedly had the same freedoms and opportunities that men had and were considered the equals of men in all respects. This was an illusion, however, as men were still projecting their ideas of equality on women.

Post Maoist Era: 1979-1994

After Mao Tse-tung died in 1979, China opened itself to influences and ideas from other parts of the world, particularly the West. (The United States and Europe). Women began to take an active role in providing for their welfare, stating frequently that they did not need or want the government to decide what were appropriate policies for women. For example, women strongly asked for the protection of the law in divorce cases since men were frequently awarded everything – all the property – the children – all other assets in a divorce case. According to women, equality under the law was essential.

Throughout the 1980s and the early 1990s, women were in the development stage. They were taking western concepts of equality and incorporating these ideas into a useful working draft of women’s rights. Women in China did not want to become western women, rather they wanted to take a foreign concept and transform it to fit Chinese culture.

Some issues included:

 1995 to present

In 1995, the 4th Annual Women’s Conference was held in Beijing. Present at the Conference were non-governmental and non-profit organizations. In China, the Conference represented another milestone for the Woman’s Movement. Government policy addressing women’s concerns and issues was developed. Now, in 2005, ten years since the Conference and the creation of the policies, the evaluation of progress has begun. Every level of government, from the national to the local must address the questions of what has improved and what has not improved. (These are called purple-cover reports.) Specific issues include:

Are more women property owners?
Have women’s salaries reached parity with men’s salaries?
Are more women in policy making positions?

In what roles did I see women?
I saw teachers, professors, housewives, shopkeepers, store owners, tourists, entertainers, entrepreneurs, worshippers, shoppers, assistants, female deities (in the Buddhist religion) child care givers.

In what roles did I not see women? Buddhists Monks (although I believe there are nuns, but I did not see any)
Guides (all of our guides were male, expect Eileen Walsh’s friend)

Roles about which I am not sure:
Government officials
Wealthy entrepreneurs
Executive positions with firms (CEOS)
Female principals, presidents of universities

What differences did I observe between urban and rural women?

What differences did I observe between the Han Chinese women and the minority group women?

Tourists vs. entertainers at the Minority village
Western dress vs. ethnic dress
Worshipping freely at Buddhists sites
Prohibited from entering certain mosques
Covered to various degrees

Filling in the Gaps
Research Projects for students
Females in high government positions
Female CEOs
Female owned and operated businesses
Female Principals of elite schools
Female presidents of universities