Women in China: From May 4th to Me Too & Beyond

Catalog description

This course focuses on the lives of women in China over the past century. Through a range of sources students will examine the advances made, and challenged encountered, by women in China. Students will analyze the impact, and often unforeseen consequences, of state political, economic and social policies, on women’s lives. In addition to documenting the many major improvements in the quality of most women’s lives, the course will also address the challenges that women continue to face, such as the ongoing influence of traditional sexist values (重男轻女), trafficking of women, high-suicide rates, domestic-violence, and work-place gender discrimination and harassment. The course will conclude with an examination of different imaginings of the long-term impact of China’s critical demographic gender imbalance. As much as possible the experiences of women from a range of backgrounds, including different socio-economic, regional, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, will be incorporated into the course. Sources will include government policies, memoirs, short stories and science fiction, films, and academic books and articles. Prerequisite: None. Fulfillment: CORE HPC/IPC; GCS The Politics, Economy, and Environment of China.