A narrative and analytical account of Chinese women's experiences during the twentieth century. Synthesizing and incorporating the latest research, Paul J. Bailey assesses in particular the impact of political, cultural and social change in Chinese women's lives, and explores the evolution of gender discourses during this period.

Highly topical: rapidly increasing interest in China and Chinese history
One of the first books in English to provide an overview of Chinese women's lives throughout the twentieth century
Incorporates the very latest scholarship in an accessible manner and draws on Chinese cinema and autobiographical memoirs too

Autorentext

Paul J. Bailey

Inhalt

Introduction.- Women in Pre-Twentieth-Century China.- Reform, Nationalism and the 'Woman Question', 1897-1912.- Gender Discourses in the Early Republic.- 'A World Turned Upside Down': Mobilising Women for the Revolution.- Women in the City and Countryside before 1949.- The New Communist State and Marriage Reform: 'Public Patriarchy' in Practice?.- 'Women Hold Up Half the Sky': The Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution .- Women and Socioeconomic Change in the Post-Mao Era.- Conclusion.- Notes.- Bibliography.- Index.