Cultural tips

Men and Women in the Chinese Society
Women in ancient China were not allowed to hold any positions of power. They were considered "objects" to be sold off into marriage. Their feet were bound to keep them from running off. During marriage ceremonies, they were always covered up, blinded to the events of the marriage until they were in their wedding bed.

The description above, however, does not tell the full story of women in ancient China. While men ruled the world outside, women controlled the functions of the home. The wives of a man formed their own hierarchy within the household. The head wife could dictate who went where, how much money was spent on household needs, what education the children received, and ultimately the fate of the lives of the other women beneath her.

Men, like women, had little choice in who they would marry. More often than naught, an aunt or a matchmaker, usually an elderly woman of the village, would arrange marriages for families.

Mothers of young nobles, and especially child emperors, effectively ruled in place of their sons. Behind the scenes, they controlled the land and made the important decisions. They were given formal titles and positions such as Empress Dowager. Some, like Empress Dowager Lu, would forever be feared for the cruel treatment they inflicted upon their enemies.

Stories, such as the Legend of Mulan, portray women standing side-by-side with men, bravely facing the dangers and horrors of war.

After the year 1949 and the creation People's Republic of China, the Chinese adopted a more Western attitude towards the treatment of women. Many women marched right along side their fellow male comrades. They dressed in the same uniforms and read the same red books. They studied and attended schools. They even held important jobs. Officials of the state were both men and women.

After Mao Zedong's death, a new leadership took over. Major reforms were made and some outdated customs were reintroduced into Chinese culture. China opened its doors to the West.

While still conservative compared to their western counterparts of the time, Chinese women began to explore different make-ups, clothing, and ways of life. Modern conveniences emerged over time that helped to make their lives easier and allowed them to once again go to school and join the workforce. The western concepts of choosing your own husband, divorcing your husband, being a single mom, as well as others, were adopted by the Chinese.