Historical Transition of Gender Roles in China

This article delves into the intricate landscape of gender roles within China, employing a historical lens to dissect the evolution of these roles throughout key periods of Chinese societal transformation. The study centres on three pivotal epochs in contemporary China: the pre-liberation era (prior to 1949), the era of socialist construction (1949-1978), and the phase of economic reform (post-1978). Despite the undeniably persistent underpinning of traditional gender roles throughout history, this analysis offers insight into the essence of feminist movements—an ongoing struggle against the subjugation of women. While notable strides have been made in enhancing the status and rights of women in recent decades, it becomes evident that achieving genuine gender equality necessitates a more nuanced approach beyond the mere expansion of educational and occupational opportunities for women. True transformation mandates heightened awareness of gender inequality across all societal domains, catalysing collective participation in social initiatives by both genders. This article underscores the imperative of multifaceted engagement to drive meaningful and lasting shifts in gender dynamics.

Alesina, A., Giuliano, P., & Nunn, N. (2013). On the origins of gender roles: Women and the plough. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 128(2), 469-530.

Dong, J. P., & Tang, S. J. (2013). Influence of women’s acyesis and social work intervention. Shehui Gongzuo, (4), 100-107.

Fan, H. X. (2011). The debate of “women coming back home” since the 20th century. Journal of Shanxi Normal University (Social Sciences Edition), 38(6), 8-12.

Gutek, B. A., Searle, S., & Klepa, L. (1991). Rational versus gender role explanations for work-family conflict. Journal of Applied Psychology, 76(4), 560-568.

Hansen, C. W., Jenson, P. S., & Skovsgaard, C. V. (2015). Modern gender roles and agricultural history: The Neolithic inheritance. Journal of Economic Growth, 20(4), 365-404.

Jayachandran, S. (2014). The roots of gender inequality in developing countries. Working Paper 20380, National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge.

Jiang, Y. P. (2012). Dual construction of “construction of both nation and family” and women’s gender role—Nation and women in China’s “planned economy” period. Journal of Shandong Women’s University, 101(1), 1-6.

Jin, Y. H. (2006). Rethinking the “iron girls”—Gender and labor during the Chinese cultural revolution. Sociological Studies, 21(1), 169-193.

Kang, K. Q. (1978). Work report of the 4th All-China Democratic Women’s Federation. China Female Net. Retrieved from http://www.women.org.cn

Liu, A. Y., & Tong, X. (2014). The present situation of gender attitudes and the factors influencing them. China Social Sciences, (2), 116-129.

Liu, X. Z. (2011). Reevaluation of the historical status and function of “san gang wu chang”. Confucius Research, (2), 19-29.

Qi, S. S. (2018). An analysis of intergenerational transmission of Chinese gender role ideas. China Population Research, (6), 80-91.

Qi, S. S. (2019). Social-cultural roots of gender income difference in China: Evidence from the gender role attitudes. Sociology Research, 106-131.

Song, S. P. (2012). From visible to invisible: Housework in the collectivist period (1949-1966). Jiangsu Social Sciences, (1), 116-125.

Tong, X., & Liu, A. Y. (2015). Cooperative housework model of couples in urban double-employee families. China Social Sciences, (6), 96-111.

Wang, P., & Wu, Y. X. (2019). Socioeconomic status, gender inequality, and gender-role attitudes. Sociological Review of China, 7(2), 55-70.

Yang, J. H. (2017). The continuation and changes of Chinese gender concepts in the past 20 years. Shandong Social Sciences, 267(11), 60-71.

Zhang, L. (2017). Contemporary youth’s gender roles, family concepts and their shaping. China Youth Research, Shi Zheng Diao Yan, 51-58.