Family gender roles at the beginning of 20th century in Su Tong’s novel “Wives and Concubines”

Abstract

The paper is the examination the Su Tong’s novel “Wives and Concubines” as historical resource to study the position of women in the first quarter of the 20th century in China. Literature can be accurate in assessing changes in mentality of a certain society. The process of the women’s role transformation is still one of the most complex and insufficiently studied topics. In the first part of the 20th century, Xinhai Revolution overthrew the Qing Dynasty and China experienced a great influence of the Western culture. This era was also characterized by the rising movement for women’s rights. In the novel “Wives and Concubines”, Su Ting demonstrates the harsh reality of women from province, where the traditions, sexual policy, gender and class hierarchies were the means of women’s oppression. Within the narrative of novel, women are abused by the androcentric culture. In 1911, the revolution didn’t change the rules that govern the Chinese society. The strong perception of power-related norms in people’s ideology about marriage still persevered, traditional role of women was linked to family, thus limiting the career development and ambitions. Women were to be defined as obedient and dependent on support from their husbands, even if they sacrifice their own careers.