The Rise of Modern Chinese Women

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Recommended: The roles of men in a patriarchal society

Sexual equality a concept that most of us we are longing for in the society nowadays. However, it is nothing more than a dream in the past Chinese lineage-dominated society. It is a society that famous for men are superior to women. According to Prof. Ma, men and women are treated differently in Chinese lineage-dominated society. For example, in family, workplace and politics aspect, men had absolute power and right on decision making whereas women are not entitled to or nearly forbidden to involve in the above aspect. Women even were considered as outsiders when the married as if they were only the machine of reproduction and housework. This indicated that female in Chinese lineage-dominated society were by no means treated fairly. Nonetheless, the situation has changed since several decades ago, women gained higher status in workplace as well as in the family. Female are not trapped by those feudal way of thinking anymore. This essay will argue that the gender role has been changed and tends to sexual equality and women have higher social status than before.

In the family aspect, female in the typical Chinese-lineage dominated society owned little freedom as well as the right of coming to grips of properties. All of the above happened, according to prof. Ma, owing to women were defined as not trust-worthy and considered as outsiders. With this being prevalent, female, no matter married or not, are expected to stay at home. They were responsible for all the housework and daily living needs foe the family. Thanks to the domination of patrilineal values, women`s social life was dominated as well as blocked. The gender role of male in the family are mainly the leader of the family and the sources of the family income. Thus, it can...

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...tures and Values (L1) Gender and Family-Chinese lineage system and gender . . Retrieved , from http://lmes2.ust.hk/access/content/group/9483bdb1-df35-4fc3-a7ad-a8c8fcec56ef/Lecture%20PPTs/Week%206%20Lecture%20PPT%20_Mar%2010_.pdf
Ma, J. (2014, March 10). HUMA 1000 Cultures and Values (L1) Gender and Family-Chinese lineage system and gender . . Retrieved , from http://lmes2.ust.hk/access/content/group/9483bdb1-df35-4fc3-a7ad-a8c8fcec56ef/Lecture%20PPTs/Week%206%20Lecture%20PPT%20_Mar%2010_.pdf
Anne Kinney, "Ancient China," in Children and Youth in History, Item #187, http://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/teaching-modules/187 (accessed April 16, 2014)
Litke, M. (n.d.). Some Chinese Leaving Baby Girls for Dead. ABC News. Retrieved , from http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=130158
Women in China. (2014, April 15). Wikipedia. Retrieved , from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_China

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