The Roles of Men and Women in the Song and Qing Dynasties in China
This is a 6 page paper discussing the distinctions between men and women in the Song and Qing Dynasties in China. The distinctions between men and women changed during the times of continuous change which existed in China between the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Although China experienced a great deal of wealth during the Song Dynasty and women were often involved in running family businesses in the merchant class, the prominent role of women was still one of wife and mother in the household. At this time only men were literate, educated and allowed to own land. In addition, men introduced the practice of foot-binding of women to show their wealth and status. The practice of foot-binding of women was one of the first practices forbidden by the Manchurians during their leadership in the Qing Dynasty. In the latter Qing Dynasty, the dynamics changed again with the influences of the West in trade. During the latter Qing Dynasty, women from the upper classes became literate and educated and over 3,500 women published their writings during this period. Despite the increasing status of women in Chinese society however, most women were still restricted to writing about their traditional roles as wives and mothers as men still held dominated the system.
Bibliography lists 9 sources.
File: D0_TJQingD1.rtf
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