How Does Confucianism Affect The History Of Women In Asia?

During the 18th Century women in China continued to be subordinated and subjected to men. Their status was maintained by laws, official policies, cultural traditions, as well as philosophical concepts. The Confucian ideology of 'Thrice Following'; identified to whom a women must show allegiance and loyalty as she progressed throughout her life-cycle: as a daughter she was to follow her father, as a wife she was to follow her husband, and as a widow she was to follow her sons. Moreover, in the Confucian perception of the distinction between inner and outer, women were consigned to the inner domestic realm and excluded from the outer realm of examinations, politics and public life. For

Confucianism is a philosophy that focused on family and social harmony, rather than on spiritual values. Women’s roles were not clearly defined by Confucianism, and many women were uneducated on the role they played in the household and society. Ban Zhao wrote Lessons for a Women to educate women of the role and criteria necessary to be a good wife. Ban Zhao states “Being careless, and by nature stupid, I taught and trained my children without system… I do grieve that you, my daughters, just now at the age for marriage, have not at this time had gradual training and advice; that you still have not learned the proper

The oppression of women has been brought into light in the recent years but it was the norm in many societies in early history especially in premodern east Asia. During that time, the roles of men and women in society were determined by great scholars that had the power to get their voice to be heard and set general rules in society. In China, scholars like Confucius, Mencius, and Mozi had great impact on the way people divided the roles between men and women. The overall oppression of women in premodern east Asia can be seen through quotes from great scholars about how women should be obedient to men, should not make important decisions in their families, and are not spoken of equally to men in society.

Women's roles in feudal Japan ranged from wives, mothers, geishas, and warriors. Women were brought up to believe that they were inferior to men. They had no independence or say in their lives. Her whole entire life she had to obey the male gender. Her father, her husband, and if she is widowed, her son. Women didn't have freedom, even if they were high-ranking. Her family would chose her husband in an arranged marriage, usually for alliances. If the women did not get married they had to become a Buddhist nun, even if it meant lowering their status. A woman's first duty was to marry her husband and obey them, her second duty was to bear her husband a son who would inherit their family's land and power when he died. But, if she were to bear a daughter, then it was her duty to be her teacher, and to teach her how to read and write, how to wear the clothes of the court, and teach her proper manners such as how to act, and how to address those around her.

Gender roles and the rights of women in society are fundamentally the same in 18th century Europe as in Japan at the turn of the century. In both societies women are looked down upon as the weaker counterparts of men; useful only for improving the lives of men. Because society believes women only live to improve the lives of men they feel that women don’t need to be educated, they don’t need to own property, and that women should suit the taste and needs of men. The idea that women are lesser than men in society and don’t deserve the same privileges and rights shaped the role of women in Europe and Japan. Women in Japan and Europe are forced to rely on men because they are

The role of women in Japan has been influenced by the many changes that the country has integrated over the years. In the past, women were full time housewives. They would work until marriage, and then retire to take care of their household, as men were seen as the sole breadwinners of the house. There are a large number of behavioral expectations for women, like cleanliness, modesty, courtesy and much more. Japanese women were expected to take care of the personal appearance, their homes, and attend to guests by preparing food or tea. In ancient Japan, women were given the smallest roles in society. Women in Japan were not able to divorce their husbands’, however, husbands were able to divorce their wives if they felt that they were not fulfilling their duties. Though, a great deal has changed in Japan after World War II. Japanese people’s attitude toward divorce had changed as much as their attitude toward marriage. New laws had been placed and with the western influence, people became more open minded. According to Yoko Tokuhiro, it is common to find that Japanese women delay marriage until later to experience life more before settling down. Women even work after marriage or childbirth and some even choose to become career women (Marriage in Contemporary Japan, 44). Women now have the right to own properties, vote and work. Japan continues to adopt western culture, and as a result, women now have a larger role in society.

Starting in 1949, and intensifying during the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, a diametric shift began to take place with Chinese gender roles. The social status of women was drastically improved, as they were allowed to venture forth from the domestic sphere. Many women began working outside the house, allowing them to earn an income for their birth families before they were married. (Hinton, 1984) The dowry culture began to recede in favor of love marriages, further reducing the economic strain a female child would place on her household. (Huang, 2012) Love marriages and earning power also increased the woman’s status within the household. It became commonplace for daughters to visit their birth families, allowing them to assist in caring or elderly relatives, a task previously designated only to sons. (Yan,

Under the Confucian system, the position of woman in ancient china, especially in Qing dynasty was still humble and inferior. According to Confuciuisuaim, women were not equal to man and should not get education. Just like the old saying, “In a woman lack of talent is virtue”.

In the Chinese culture women are confined to obligations within the household. Majority of Chinese citizens in the 1950’s would say that “Women must care for husband, children, and other members of the family. They must look after the house, clean, make and wash clothes”(See 208). Women in the household have the job of staying at home, doing chores, taking care of the children and making meals, this restricts them from undertaking any job outside their households. When a man gets a cut, a good daughter in law should be “’kneeling down picking the glass shards out of her father in law’s feet’”(See 250).The Chinese

The rights and roles of women in Chinese society have gone through drastic changes over the past couple centuries. From the age of foot binding to communism today, women have had to adjust repeatedly to the changing values and customs of China. Women have been bound by obedience and traditions. From centuries ago, men have been considered the core of the family. Early records of women only exist to indicate the problems they created for men. Confucius greatly influenced the role of women in their family. He emphasized family virtues like filial piety. Women 's roles were mostly kinship roles: wife, mother, sister, daughter, daughter-in-law, and mother-in-law. These roles established that women had to go with the wishes and needs of the closely related men. Women had to listen to their father when young, their husbands after marriage, and sons after husband 's death. Chinese women have had to go through male dominance from birth and fail to receive proper treatment in both social and physical aspects. However, in the rise of the new century drastic changes are seen in the treatment and roles of Chinese women.

Confucius is a philosopher and a notable figure in Chinese history. He is the cornerstone of traditional Chinese culture and has created the ideological system Confucianism. In order to fully understand the Chinese culture and its society, Confucianism is ought to be mention, as it is a symbolic custom that defines Chinese society for the past two thousand years. Confucianism has influenced the Chinese history, social structure, and the perspective of the people.

When conducting research on a feature of gender inequality it is important to define what gender is. In this paper we have decided to use the definition by Judith Lorber (2010), which defines gender as:

Chinese society was patrilineal, patrilocal, and patriarchical. Confucianism, with its emphasis on traditional rituals, extended these ideas through all aspects of social and political life. Master Kongzi saw religious and social rituals as the basis for civilization, and believed that only through such a civilized society could there be a stable and enduring social order. For him, the family was the fundamental unit of society, and families were to be set up in a specific "natural" hierarchy. Fathers were to have authority over their sons; elder brothers had authority over younger brothers; and fathers, husbands, and grown sons all had authority over their female kin. A man’s duty was to have sons to perpetuate the family line, to properly bury him when the time came, and to venerate the male ancestors of the family. A women was honored within the family as the one who bore children and taught them their social place, but she did so only under the authority of her husband and his parents. She also cared for her in-laws, and might continue to do even if her husband died. Therefore, a woman’s standing within her family of marriage depended on her bearing male heirs, and a widow who had not produced sons was worthless to that family. At no time was a women an autonomous individual; rather, she owed respect and obedience at all times to her parents, her husband and in-laws, and eventually, to her grown sons.

Following the above discussion there emerges subsequent issues on how to localize international human rights mechanism without being hurdled by cultural diversity as well as taking political culture into consideration. Starting with a cultural consideration, the question what exactly then Confucianism apply in East Asia politics and what Confucianism pertains the cultural advantages and disadvantages of the contemporary human rights mechanism in East Asia come to the first glance. Confucianism in diverse form affects the people in Asia, not only in the political area but also the internal behavioral model and mentality. The question whether Confucianism provides thinking sources for the adaptor of human rights thinking has distinctly embodied

Confucius was a great Chinese philosopher, but he was also a teacher, editor, and politician. He was born on September 28, 551 BC, and died in 479 BC. He was most well known as Confucius, but his real name is Kong Qiu. After his death, Confucianism became the official imperial philosophy of China. Later after his death, he was regarded as a sage who deserved greater recognition, and his teachings became more popular. He accomplished many great things in his life, and died a successful man.