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Gender Inequality In Short Story

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Inequality between men and women was still prevalent in the Chinese culture even in the republican era of China. The differences amongst the genders’ position in the society are more evident in the family which is the basic unit of the society. Marriage being the foundation of a family could therefore contribute to the inequality experienced by females. Several stories written by Lu Xun, a scholar in that era, illustrates in what way women, especially those who are married, suffers from discrimination.
Hu Shih, a writer against repressive sexual morality like Lu Hsun (Curtin 18), in his paper Women’s Place on Chinese History said that there is general notion that “Chinese woman has always occupied a very low place in Chinese society” (qtd. in Li 3). Since childhood, boys and girls were treated differently. On Lu Xun’s short story Soap, society’s view on girls was expressed through the father’s opinion:
“There’s no need for Xiu’er and her sister to attend any school. ‘What’s the good of girls studying?’ as Ninth Grandpa said. When he opposed girls’ schools I attacked him for it; but now I see the old folk were right after all.” (214) …show more content…

Even the opinions of those who were advocating education for girls like the father’s opinion were changed and influenced by the social order. Inequality of boys and girls does not only exist in ordinary family but also in the royal family. The sons in royal family are clothed in robes, put to sleep on couches, while daughters are clothed in wrappers and put to sleep on the ground (Chao 200). This oppression in which Chinese women in premodern China has been suffering was largely by men for the advantage of themselves (Li xvi). Principles in Confucianism, which is one of the dominant religion in china, reflects the objectification of women. Pan summarizes Confucians opinion on that

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