Reconceiving Women's Equality in China: A Critical Examination of Models of Sex Equality

by Lijun Yuan Texas State University

Overview

According to the author, the subordination of Chinese women continued under different models of sex equality in China in twentieth century. In Reconceiving Women's Equality in China Lijun Yuan discusses and assesses four models of women's equality: first, the traditional Confucian view of women which advocates that women's role is to follow and support men; second, the liberal feminist idea of formal equality for women introduced into China at the beginning of the twentieth century, which is anti-Confucian and advocates women's equal rights in education, law, and employment; third, Mao's view of women's equality in production, calling for substantive equality between men and women; finally, the idea of equal opportunity in the economic transformation in the post-Mao period, the revival of Confucianism in this period and its convergence with the declining status of women. According to Yuan, each of these models has a variety of problems in dealing with women's equality. However, she sees one common thread running through all of them, namely, lack of emphasis on empowering women to develop their own visions of equality. Ideologies imposed from the top-down have rationalized the continuing subordination and exploitation of women, either blatantly (Confucianism) or more subtly (Maoism). After exposing the common feature in their failure to reach the social ideal of women's equality, the author proposes a more democratic conception of women's equality that will allow ideals to continue changing as material circumstances change in different stages of social development. This book is a seminal work of research on the status of women in China during and after Mao's cultural revolution. It is essential to studies of Chinese society, politics, and religion, as well as to women's studies and philosophy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739112281
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	08/29/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	146
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 8.92(h) x 0.59(d)

About the Author

Lijun Yuan is professor of philosophy at Texas State University-San Marcos.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Confucius, Confucianism, and the Confucian Rationale for Women's Inequality Chapter 2 May Fourth Era and Women's Formal Equality Chapter 3 Women's Equality in Mao's Time Chapter 4 Equal Opportunity in the Post-Mao Period Chapter 5 A Democratic Conception of Women's Equality

Editorial Reviews

This little book is likely to have a big impact. It is both an extraordinarily sound, well-researched historical analysis of women's equality in China during the last 150 years and a philosophic examination of the paradigms used to support (or suppress) women's progress—making intelligent use of sources from both Chinese and international feminist theory. Lijun Yuan's conclusions, drawing on traditional, modern, and western sources to develop a paradigm of democratic equality for women, will be of value for both those interested in women's situation and future in China and those who simply want to enlarge their grasp of feminist analysis. An important contribution to the literature!

Marjorie C. Miller