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Cited by 2Historical Gender and Feminism StudiesGender and Feminist StudiesHistorical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes

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The Official Construction of Female Sexuality and Gender in the People's Republic of China 1949-1959.

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Evans, Harriet·1991·School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
DOI 10.25501/soas.00033902
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Abstract

Issues of sexuality as expounded in the Chinese official press of the 1950s can be taken as an important indicator of the changing perception of female gender in the early People's Republic. This thesis explores the assumptions and attitudes concerning sexuality conveyed in the official media, and places particular emphasis on the projection of female attributes and responsibilities in sexual relationships. It analyses the different biological and social constructions of sexuality, and the means by which biologically determined sexual differences were inscribed with specific gender characteristics. In so doing, it offers a view of female gender not attainable from the study of women in other contexts in the same period. Simultaneously, the focus on the official media permits examination of the nature of the state's interests in sponsoring public discussion about sex-related issues. Official journals and educational materials on love, marriage and the family projected new norms and expectations of women's sexual behaviour which served both didactic and exhortatory functions. Norms expounded for women as fiancee, wife and mother, as represented in these materials, established a new conjugal relationship in which, ideally, both man and wife contributed in equal measure to marital and family stability and satisfaction. The new norms also suggested that women were attributed with certain biological characteristics which identified them as 'natural' providers of their husbands' needs and as principle mediators of marital harmony. Any female violation of the new sexual norms was interpreted as the generator and signifier of suffering, sickness and moral chaos. Women, therefore, were assigned primary responsibility for maintaining moral and social order. On this basis, it can be argued that female sexual conduct was appropriated by the state as an agent of moral and social order, in which the needs and interests of the male predominated over those of the female.

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Metadata

Authors
Evans, H.
Corresponding author
Evans, Harriet
ORCID
Evans, Harriet
Venue
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
Publisher
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
Published
1991
DOI
10.25501/soas.00033902
OpenAlex
W3099896860
Cited by
2
References
0
Type
dissertation
Language
en
Open access
Licence
public-domain
Locations
  • SOAS Research Online (SOAS University of London) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
  • OpenGrey (Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • SOAS Research Online (SOAS University of London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • SOAS Research Online (SOAS University of London)
Funders
  • Yale University
  • University of Chicago
  • University of Cambridge
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Historical Gender and Feminism Studies
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes
Keywords
female sexuality, gender construction, People's Republic of China, official press, state media, sexual norms, marriage and family, conjugal relationships, moral order, state control of sexuality, gender roles, 1950s China

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