Role of Women in Chinese Society

 

The role of women in Modern Chinese Society contrasts greatly from traditional Chinese society. There is more equality and fairness, and most Chinese people back in China and abroad regard their women with respect. “Chinese women are now entitled to occupational and educational opportunities” (e How inc). It is important though to look at the role of women in traditional Chinese society, and what they have been able to accomplish so far.


In traditional Chinese society, women were held at a lower level than men. They were expected to behave according to set traditional practice. Traditional Chinese society was repressive and strictly ordered, where women had no private lives. Personal ambitions were seen as a disruption to society order. Whatever a woman decides to do, it had to be for the sake of the whole family or village. Women were supposed to keep issues surrounding their lives as secrets. In the book The Woman Warrior, the author Maxine Kingston, tell of occasions when her mother cautioned her from sharing the family secrets with other people.

Her mother tells Kingston, “You must not tell anyone”(Kingston), when she narrates about her aunt who killed herself and her newly born baby. This story serves as a further illustration of the cruelty Chinese women faced. They were not supposed to behave in a manner that could sexually attract men. The aunt, illustrated in the first chapter of Kingston book as “No Name woman” paid with her own life, the mistake of giving birth to an illegitimate child.

In traditional Chinese society, birth of a girl child was considered a disappointment and bad luck. Girl education and skills were considered useless. The parents and the community scorned at women who expressed desire to move beyond the traditional boundary set by the society. Traditional Chinese women were supposed to be fully bound to their role as wives and mother and to solely rely on their husband for provision. In her book, Kingston tells of one time when her mother complained to her that her birth had cost her $200 at a “time when they were giving away slave girls in China for free” (Kingston)In the modern Chinese society, especially within the emigrant community in America, the role of women has expanded, although the lives of many women are characterized by traditional customs.

Growing up as Chinese-American is different from growing up in China. Women have “learned to takes on a traditionally male role, wearing male armor and commanding men”(Kingston). Through the force of their will, Chinese women have taken up great position within the American society. They possess immense power in their ability to give life and play significant role in their families. These powers give Chinese-American women ability to maintain a sense of womanhood, and perform role as a wife and mother. Chapter two of Kingston book is clear illustration of the power that Chinese-American women have.

The chapter, titled white tiger describes the woman as “warrior who ties up her hair when she is fighting and lets her hair down to cover the tattoo of revenge on her back when she is a wife”(Kingston). This chapter shows the increased freedom and ability to make a personal choice for Chinese-American women.

There is increased roles reversal within Chinese society in America. As women take up men roles, Chinese American men are finding themselves taking roles that were traditionally meant for women. This is illustrated in the second chapter, white tiger, where Kingston husband “leaves the battle to return home and care for their son”(Kingston). In the work place, Chinese American, as any minority races has to speak out and fight a constant battle against racism. Like many emigrant families career Chinese women have to work for many hours.