Our Case Study of Writers

• Cai Wenji lived during the Han Dynasty. Famous works: Indignation which is the first full-length narrative of five words autobiographical.
• Li Qingzhao lived during the Song Dynasty. Famous works:  Sound Slow, A Branch of Plum Blossom, Summer.
• Bing Xin lived during the Republican Period. Famous works: The Stars and About Women.
• Eileen Chang lived during the Republican Period. Famous works: Love in a Fallen City and Lust.
• Yang Jiang lived during the Republican Period. Famous works: The Proposal.

Han Dynasty (peacetime)

Although not regarded as highly as males, females did have freedoms during the Han Dynasty and were able to demonstrate power through running the household and their family units. However, it was common for married couples to reside with the males family. That being said, women had very different expectations from males as illustrated in "Lessons for Women."

Song Dynasty (wartime)

Women had more freedom during this period that the previously addressed Han Dynasty. The strict regulations and expectations laid out in the book "Lessons for Women" were no longer as applicable as they had been in the past. Women were no longer respected if they chose to remarry and the rise of yin and yang laid validity on the foundation that there were stark differences between males and females.

Republican Period (wartime)

During this period, there were still stark differences between males and females. That being said, across the world a revolution was occurring that spurred equal rights for the genders. Thus, females were encouraged to leave the home to get an education, leadership/community positions, jobs, and could work at locally owned businesses. 

Arguments

• Female writers are more common during times of war than times of peace.
  • ​Of our sample, a majority of authors lived during periods of war rather than peace. For instance, most authors lived during the Republican Period which was a time of chaos. The civil war began during that time and involved the Communist Party and the Nationalist Party. ​
• Female authors are less prominent than male authors in the writing sphere due to different social expectations.
  • Male roles remained the same throughout each dynasty: head of household, family provider, community leaders

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