Women And Mens Societal Role

Women and mens societal role very much greatly differed from one another in
todays society of modern china and in the past of Chinese culture. Even though china is
one of the biggest countries, there is only one ethnic group for both of the genders
societal role. This paper will outline the particular roles that each gender is apart of
currently and in the past within China. Thus, I will also explore how the roles of both
men and women have changed over periods of time.
Women in modern day China and within the past they have always been
called inferior to males. As this forms a more dominant ego among the males, women
have also been considered maids or servants to there husbands or fathers. This belief and
rule of women to obey was called Confucian teaching in a patriarchal society. As this
was the broad spectrum of a womens role, girls did not go to school or further their
education in any way. If their parents were educated then they would take on the teacher
role. Even for young girls to stay at home and help their mothers was primarily to
develop and brush up on their future women roles when they become a wife and mother.
Currently, womens role includes preparing food, cleaning and looking after children
were the norm for the majority of women in ancient China. Spinning, weaving, sewing
was common occupation. As some peasant women worked in their field with their
husbands (Daily Life Of Women 1). Thus, womens main duty besides these was to have a
son and only one son.
In the past within Chinas societal gender roles. If women did work they
were to partake in a career that was under their fathers or husband position. Being treated
and desired less then men in the workforce was considered normal. Furthermore, women
were educated and main focus was to maintain proper self discipline, etiquette.
Relationships with in laws, household management, humility and chastity (Gender role
and family structure 3). As these roles and requirements are still expected among modern
day they are not significantly pushed among women to obey.
Differently between modern day womens societal role and in the past; currently
women do not hold careers, as they are stay at home moms and wife and are not even
under lower positions in the workface beneath their husbands and father. As gender
equality is becoming more prominent in todays world and slowly in
china, the basic responsibility of a common stay at home mother and
wife is a standard that is held the highest for the females individuals.
Even though there are many ethnic groups in China the stereotypical
expected societal role among women remains the same among any
given ethnicities. It the future generations we may see a change in
womens societal role, but until then and since the past Chinese
women have withstand incredible pressures to conform to the ideals
and norms established by the Chinese state. Whether it is Confucian
values or revelountiary maoist ideals (Womens Role In China 1).
The societal role of men today in China is firstly to be the
economical figure that can provide for the family rather than the
female. There are five elements that determine the mens role in
Chinese society if any. Such include family status, occupation, age,
and intelligence (The Role Of Men And Women In China 1). As most

men in China work in factories or for large companies and business.

Since 30 million more men than women will reach adulthood in
china. (Chinas Biggest Problem 1). Chinas biggest problem is having a
largely overpopulated gender of men, the societal roles can only be
sustained by so many within the majority of men of China that work in
an industrial setting.
As modern day mens societal role has very much changed over
time.
Mens role in the early Chinese culture was either to be a craft making
solider, famer or merchant, leaders of the family, ran government and
take care and protect the weak (The Role Of Men And Women In
China 1). As men still are but more considered in the past more higher
respectful than women; the husbands were allowed to abuse there
wife. This was an example of the men being the dominant figure in the
marriage and the Chinese culture. Currently and in the past men were
not allowed to marry poor women, as the male marries into the same
social class that they came from. The easiest way to choose a mate
was by an arranged marriage from there parents. From there the
gender role would not change from generation to generation, as it
remained the same with the cycle repeating itself. Similarly to modern
day china, the family dynamic of not only just having one child but
sustaining the gender role of men is at an all time high as the main
focus is for a married couple to have one child and to be a son.
Brooks, R., & The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rob Brooks. (2013,
March 4). China's biggest problem? Too many men. Retrieved February 25, 2015, from
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/14/opinion/china-challenges-one-child-brooks/
Daily life of women. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2015, from http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-14_u173_t-472_c-1711/act/history/ancient-societies-china/ancient-china-part-ii/daily-life-of-womenThe role of men and women in China. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2015, from
http://www.chlive.org/lascola/the_role_of_men_and_women_in_china.htm
Women's Roles in China: Changes Over Time Tags: China, east asia, primary source world, primary
sources, women . (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2015, from
http://resources.primarysource.org/content.php?pid=78888&sid=584078