Challenges accepted beliefs that Confucianism is a cause of women's
oppression and explores Confucianism as an ethical system compatible
with gender parity. Confucianism and Women argues that Confucian
philosophy-often criticized as misogynistic and patriarchal-is not
inherently sexist. Although historically bound up with oppressive
practices, Confucianism contains much that can promote an ethic of
gender parity. Attacks on Confucianism for gender oppression have
marked China's modern period, beginning with the May Fourth Movement
of 1919 and reaching prominence during the Cultural Revolution of the
1960s and 1970s. The West has also readily characterized Confucianism
as a foundation of Chinese women's oppression. Author Li-Hsiang Lisa
Rosenlee challenges readers to consider the culture within which
Confucianism has functioned and to explore what Confucian thought
might mean for women and feminism. She begins the work by clarifying
the intellectual tradition of Confucianism and discussing the
importance of the Confucian cultural categories yin-yang and nei-wai
(inner-outer) for gender ethics. In addition, the Chinese tradition of
biographies of virtuous women and books of instruction by and for
women is shown to provide a Confucian construction of gender.
Practices such as widow chastity, footbinding, and concubinage are
discussed in light of Confucian ethics and Chinese history.
Ultimately, Rosenlee lays a foundation for a future construction of
Confucian feminism as an alternative ethical ground for women's
liberation.
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A Philosophical Interpretation
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780791481790
Publisert
2021
Utgiver
State University of New York Press (SUNY Press)
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter