The Different Scial Status for Ancient Chinese Women - Research Paper Example

The different social status for ancient Chinese women It is of critical importance to acknowledge the fact that the social status of the Chinese women has dramatically changed over several historical decades. The Chinese women really faced many societal problems in the ancient days. Some of these problems include domestic or societal oppressions. In addition, the roles that were played by the ancient Chinese women were very belittling and were associated with several forms of discriminations and oppressions (Tao and Shirley, 41). In the ancient days, the Chinese women were not allowed to partake certain chores and roles in the society. This follows that such roles were left as preserves for men. As such, women were not expected to perform such duties. However, at present, things have changed. The situation has been reversed following the civilization that has resulted from revolution as well as modernization (Tao and Shirley, 47). In the ancient days, it was a general knowledge in China that the role of women revolves around the kitchen. Women were expected to cook for their men. This paper is going to discuss some of the changes that have taken place in the social status of women of China through the ancient Chinese history. This is going to capture such issues involving the change in lifestyle, holding positions in the society as well as some of the changes that have resulted in line with family status and living environments of Chinese women relevant to the ancient Chinese history. In ancient China, women faced several severe oppressions within the society. In the ancient China, women were never allowed to hold any public offices (Tao and Shirley, 57). This is because such were left as preserves for men. However, with regards to the two poems, when holding a position, a woman was expected to maintain high degree of morality and commitment. In relation to this, a woman was not expected to be proud at high positions. This was in order to avoid herself from getting ruined. On the same note, a woman was not expected to be subordinate to inferior positions. This could lead her to attracting unnecessary punishments. Moreover, a woman holding any position was expected to be less quarrelsome. This ensured that she avoided conflicts with others. A woman who fulfilled all these was best qualified to be called a wife (Wang, 59). However, with time, the status of women in China has changed considerably. This follows that women can today hold public offices in China as well as have their thoughts considered in several issues concerning societal development. Confucian values, virtues and teachings in the ancient China contributed a lot towards shaping the society’s conceptions relevant to various issues in the society (Tao and Shirley, 65). It is important to note that the Confucian teachings formed the basis of all marriages as well as family relationships in the ancient China. Some of these teachings were very oppressive and unwelcoming towards the issue of gender balance and equality. The Confucian teachings in the ancient Chinese society dictated that men were the sole arbiter for the entire family. These teachings accorded men more power and value in the ancient Chinese society as compared to women. Women were supposed to be submissive to their husbands and never question anything done by the husband, whether it is wrong or right (Tao and Shirley, 75). This is well covered in the Book of Filial Piety, through the two poems, as women were expected to be submissive to their husbands. The husbands were considered heavens. As such, a woman was expected to try her level best in order to ensure full submission to her husband in order to bring success to their families. They were expected to show love to their husbands and the entire family. A woman was supposed to be diligent when serving food to her husband. In addition, a woman was supposed to keep agreements, report her comings as well as goings and use unblemished words when talking (Wang, 61). The women also corrected their husbands for the good of their families whenever they went wrong. The Confucian teachings also dictated the kinds of relationships that may have existed between a husband, his wife as well as children. In this manner, men were considered superior to the females and had the power to make any decision in life. A woman was expected to be faithful to her man. In this manner, the woman was not expected to go outside marriage and there were a number of strategies in place to keep this into practice (Wang, 61). For instance, before marriage, the women had their legs broken. This was done in order to make the potential spouse happy since it means the movements of such a woman will only be limited to the home and its environs. Thus, the breaking of the women’s legs helped in ensuring that the women maintain high levels of fidelity to their men. Through the poems, the Book of Filial Piety for women also maintains that women were supposed to bring order to both their superiors as well as inferiors through filial piety. Women were supposed to be submissive to their husbands and treat all people with respect in the family. Women were supposed to put others first in consideration, and put themselves last in a bid to serve their parents-in-law fully. In this manner, a woman would gain respect and approval from the family line. (Wang, 53). However, these situations have changed considerably over several decades in the history of ancient China. There have been several rules and regulations that have kept in check some of these brutal traditional customs and cultures against the women in China (Tao and Shirley, 81). Currently, both men and women can perform similar roles in the family. As such, the condition whereby men were considered the sole arbiters in the family has been averted. In addition, the modern Chinese women have equal rights with the men. In this manner, they have the right to make their own decisions without necessarily seeking for approval from their men as had been in the ancient days. It is of crucial significance to highlight that the women in ancient China underwent several oppressions within the society. For instance, in the ancient Chinese society, the status of women in the society was defined right at birth (Hinsch, 36). Boys were treasured more than girls. Girls were not allowed to undergo any formal education. Education was only a preserve for the men in the ancient Chinese society. The joy of the society relevant to the boys was informed with the fact that sons were considered both economically and physically fit. Thus, they could take care of the family in many ways. The reverence and happiness that were accorded to the girls was dismal concerning the fact that they would later be married to other distant families (Hinsch, 42). Thus, they would not contribute much to their parents. Relevant to education, the Book of Filial Piety for Women maintains that a woman was expected to be wary of the do’s and don’ts whenever pregnant or having a child. The Book of filial Piety details through the poems that a woman was not supposed to sleep sideways when having a child (Wang, 63). Other lessons that women were taught include the types of food they could take, how to stand, as well as the right side of the road to walk. All the women were supposed to be well conversant with the prenatal educational requirements. In connection to the issue of oppression in the society, the ancient Chinese women faced several predicaments in their lives. For instance, the fact that women who were to be married had their legs broken to minimize infidelity was quite disastrous. This was very cruel to the women in the Chinese society. Moreover, the fact that women were to be the last in taking meals following situations of societal unrest was also a form of oppression to the women in the ancient China (Hinsch, 54). Furthermore, in the ancient Chinese society, women were not allowed to hold any public office. However, these have dramatically changed over the years following civilization and modernization. Currently, women have the same rights as men. They enjoy the right of equal employment opportunities same as men. In addition, the women also hold the same offices as men in the Chinese society. Moreover, the Chinese women have equal rights to education as men and many have attended school to the highest degrees of education. These are some of the changes that have been realized by the Chinese women. The level of oppression that was faced by the women in ancient Chinese society has also been minimized by the several rules and regulations focusing on the equal rights of individuals (Hinsch, 71). In conclusion, the place of women in the society has always been an issue of concern for many decades. It is of crucial significance to note that in earlier days, women were considered less superior in many aspects of life. This consideration built a lot of misconception in the minds of the people, especially men in the society. The chauvinism aspects of the male species majorly reinforced these forms of misconceptions and ill beliefs towards the women. It is of crucial significance to note that male chauvinism as well as the ingrained mental misconceptions and ill beliefs led to several forms of oppressions to the women. It is important to note that these oppressions and sufferings that women underwent were a global ordeal in the ancient times. It is critical to note that in the ancient days, the women were only expected to play domestic roles, limited to good mothering as well as performing other domestic chores. However, other roles within the society were preserves for men. Women were never allowed to run the families for this was purposefully a man’s role. In addition, women were not allowed to hold any offices. Moreover, the women were never allowed to take part in any constructive debates, discussions or sharing ideas in the society concerning certain issues. However, it is of crucial significance to note that with revolution as well as modernization, the situation has changed considerably. In the current world, women have been empowered to an extent that they perform same roles as men. This has been a great change as women can also hold public offices as well as run other chores that were left as preserves for men. Works Cited Hinsch, Bret. Women in Early Imperial China. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield, 2002. Print. Tao, , Zheng, and Shirley L. Mow. Holding Up Half the Sky: Chinese Women Past, Present, and Future. New York: Feminist Press, 2004. Print. Wang, R. (2003). Images of women in Chinese thought and culture: Writings from the pre-Qin period through the Song dynasty. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub. Co. 2003. Print. Outline 1. Position of women in ancient China relevant to holding office Women were not expected to be proud when holding any superior positions in the society Women were not supposed to be quarrelsome in any positions. This was in order to minimize cases of conflicts and fighting. Women were not supposed to be insubordinate when holding inferior positions as that could fetch them a considerable punishment 2. The position of the women in the family Women were supposed to be obedient to their husbands, as well as serve everybody with diligence and respect in the society. The women were assigned specific duties in the society They were not allowed to hold public offices. Public offices were reserves for men. Their place was to be the kitchen. 3. Women and oppression in the ancient Chinese society Some of the oppressions involved the following: breaking the legs of women before they get married making women eat last in the family during wars. women were supposed to be submissive to their husbands 4. The changes that have taken place during the ancient Chinese history Women are able to acquire education same as men The rights of women have been championed by the revolution as well as the rules and regulations Women are nowadays able to hold offices same as men. Moreover, women have the same rights to job opportunities as men The family issues are nowadays shared equally between men and women. Women also have a say in their relationships with their husbands. Women can also initiate the process of separation and divorce too in the society Read More