This course explores the particularities of Chinese feminism and Chinese women’s experiences from the Qing Dynasty until the present. We examine the political and ideological dimensions of Chinese feminism, in their intersections with nationalism, anarchism, socialism, and post-socialism. We learn of the contributions to feminist theory of radical anarcho-feminist He Yin-Zhen, explore the writings of talented female writers like swordswoman and revolutionary martyr Qiu Jin, or bourgeois writer turned Marxist Ding Ling, the first female writer to write the feminine self in Chinese literature. We explore prevalent Chinese practices such as foot binding, the separation of the sexes, arranged marriage, concubines, polygamy, free love, suicide, infanticide, leftover women, the marriage market, and Chinese lesbian cinema. We also look at major events and policies in Chinese history that affect women, such as the Rape of Nanjing, Western Colonialism, the Cultural Revolution and the female Red Guards, and the One Child Policy. Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hoursPrerequisite(s): 6 credit units of senior-level HIST of which 3 credit units must
This course explores the particularities of Chinese feminism and Chinese women’s experiences from the Qing Dynasty until the present. We examine the political and ideological dimensions of Chinese feminism, in their intersections with nationalism, anarchism, socialism, and post-socialism. We learn of the contributions to feminist theory of radical anarcho-feminist He Yin-Zhen, explore the writings of talented female writers like swordswoman and revolutionary martyr Qiu Jin, or bourgeois writer turned Marxist Ding Ling, the first female writer to write the feminine self in Chinese literature. We explore prevalent Chinese practices such as foot binding, the separation of the sexes, arranged marriage, concubines, polygamy, free love, suicide, infanticide, leftover women, the marriage market, and Chinese lesbian cinema. We also look at major events and policies in Chinese history that affect women, such as the Rape of Nanjing, Western Colonialism, the Cultural Revolution and the female Red Guards, and the One Child Policy. Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hoursPrerequisite(s): 6 credit units of senior-level HIST of which 3 credit units must
