In regards to "Sexing Modern China" by Gail Hershatter:
Hershatter cites several sources that argued about the existence of prostitution during the early 1900s. Many claimed that prostitution should be eliminated because it prevented society from moving forward, but in terms of gender, did their arguments privilege men in reasoning why prostitution is bad? For example, Huang Renjing argues that prostitution can give men venereal diseases and also provides an opportunity for men to waste valuable resources and time. However, he mentions little in terms of women, illustrating that he wanted to eliminate prostitution to help men more than women. What does this backwards view, or at least unfair view, say about Chinese perceptions of gender? Also, the article highlights three main eras of recent sexual thought in China: the first where sex was linked to health and sex became a topic of modernizing China, the second where Maoist leaders reverted to puritanical repression of sex, and the third where sex mirrored the first stage. What do you believe the next stage of thought about sex will be, and why?
Well, as shown in the article, China has been rather forbidding of sexuality since it started industrialization. As China shifts towards being more "modern", reports of China's youth indicate that high school students are physically maturing earlier - here in America we obviously have a ridiculous teenage pregnancy issue, one that China has been relatively safe from. Now that China is beginning to embrace being "modern" by discussing everything, will there be a large shift in urban teenage pregnancy rates in China? Is the Chinese government prepared to address these new issues - and if it is going to need to address these issues, what's the route that it's going to take? Revert back to what once worked before, forbiddance?
The second article, "Marketing Femininity", mentions that in popular magazines, there is a discrepancy between the images and the texts. While the images often show women who represent the "erotic female image", but the text encourages women to be submissive to their husbands and act on his wishes before hers. Why is there this discrepancy between the pictures and text? If the models are supposed to represent women who are desirable, wouldn't that mean they should represent this within the cultural context?
In the article on Marketing Femininity, there were some very interesting points about the effects of globalization and Westernization and Chinese gender relations. I would say that while in both nations, there is a gap between the women portrayed in the media and real women, the gap appears to be greater gap between the women portrayed in the Chinese media and most Chinese women, who "cannot afford to mimic the lifestyle of the beautiful women copiously displayed in the commercial media." I think it will be increasingly interesting to see how culture shifts as those who are old enough to remember pre-globalization years die. How do you think this will affect concepts of women and gender in China?
In the article "Sexing Modern China", the author accredits the changing definitions of sexuality to desire and to the larger social implications of the time. Nonetheless, despite China's attempt to become more sexually "modernized," China still continues to refrain sexuality among its citizens. This can be seen through China's one-child policy in which forced abortions and female infanticide lead to the gender imbalance present among the population. I think that this predominately highlights one of the main differences between Western and Chinese gender relations. Females in the United States have attained more sexual freedom, whereas Chinese women are still expected to abide by the traditional Confucian values. In what ways are gender roles affected by the differing cultural values found in each country and why?
The article "Sexing Modern China" is an interesting piece about the changing perceptions and definitions of sexuality in China. China has become more open in regards to sex. Is this new move toward exposed sexuality just another way for China to become more modern in order to compete with other nations of the West which have been this way? The author regularly discusses the idea that China is considered backward because of their strict and conservative sexual arrangements. Is China truly okay with sexually modernizing or does it only feel the pressure to evolve like other nations?
In the article "Sexing Modern China", the reader learns about the idea of sexuality in China and its evolution through time. My question is that while China has become more modern in its views on sexuality and has taken steps towards more modern nations perceptions of sexuality, have people own morals and beliefs really changed? Do families still teach older values and principals in terms of sexuality, what is acceptable and what is condemned>? Do the citizens ideas all coincide with this modern approach to sexuality and sex, or is this something the nation is just trying to send out as a message, that China is modernizing, to get the approval of other nations?
What is considered a 'norm' in terms of openness of sexual behavior in a 'modern' society? How is that norm even measurable?
How can we establish the norms (universal norms) for sexual behaviors if they primarily rely on the cultural context and social practices of a particular society?
What is the criteria for measuring progress or change in modern China in terms of sex, including entertainment, public displays of affection, etc.?
Is 'sexing modern China' some sort of sexual revolution in this extremely fast growing and economically advancing country?
Are economic changes forcing Chinese to behave more Westernized when it comes to sex?
It is interesting that Western countries 'feel' comfortable doing business with Chinese if they behave in more Westernized way - so is modern/new China changing their unique culture, as well as their moral and traditional social standards for the sake of business relations with over-sexualized West?
In the Marketing Femininity article Evans brings up a very interesting point about the woman's role in gender hierarchy. Marketing femininity in china and the USA have many similarities, and this is one of them. Evans states that, 'as long as they [women] do not challenge mens's as well as women's understanding of gender hierarchy, men will continue to assume that their wives' main responsibility in life is to service them.' What is the most effective way to do this? What happens after the awareness exists? How much of an effect to women have upon gender hierarchy?
On page 231 of "Marketing Femininity", the author says that "the opportunities and experiences [the clothes Chinese women wear] describe are far removed from the horizons of aspiration of most women." Would this be true for fashion trends in the United States as well?
Also, on page 219, the author explains the return of femininity to China: based on this section, and the paragraphs prior to it, can one say that "femininity" is a western concept?
In many instances of the "Sexing Modern China" article, it compares the influence from the West to the traditional Eastern practices. At one point, Frank Dikotter discusses his findings in his book that "more ink spilled on questions of disease and danger than on questions of desire." In essence, society then was more concerned about the negative aspects or repercussions and less worried about the pleasure itself. If this is true, which would be more prevalant in today's society? What do the differences in the different mediums (ie. books, films, tv shows) have to say about people's desires? What about the educational aspect? Is sex discussed more in classrooms in terms of diseases/danger or in terms of desire? Should it be taught equally??? Grace Huang.
In "Sexing Modern China", the writer often compares modern and historical China to the western world and America. Is China more or less sexually repressed than America? Are the attitudes toward sex more liberated than they were in the past in China?
When reading "Sexing Modern China", I found a lot of instances where the author was talking about how outsiders can't understand how sexuality is treated in China because they come with cultural biases. Even with knowledge of other countries, how easy is it for people to judge other countries through their own country's lens? Is it possible to overcome the bias and look at another culture on its own?
While I found the article well informed and interesting, I was troubled by the portrayal of Chinese society in Hershatter's "Sexing Modern China". Hershatter seems to speak of societal views on sex as it changes through out time only. The fragmentations in Chinese society are, for the most part, ignored in the article. Because the paper so heavily emphasizes the purpose of sex (procreation vs. fulfillment of sexual desire), I wonder if there are differences in perspective on sex between classes (those in agriculture vs. those in business) in China? Even today, China remains a highly polarized society - how does this affect the nation's view on sex? Is it uniform for the most part? What about differences in views on sex based on geography?
In regards to "Sexing Modern China" by Gail Hershatter:
ReplyDeleteHershatter cites several sources that argued about the existence of prostitution during the early 1900s. Many claimed that prostitution should be eliminated because it prevented society from moving forward, but in terms of gender, did their arguments privilege men in reasoning why prostitution is bad? For example, Huang Renjing argues that prostitution can give men venereal diseases and also provides an opportunity for men to waste valuable resources and time. However, he mentions little in terms of women, illustrating that he wanted to eliminate prostitution to help men more than women. What does this backwards view, or at least unfair view, say about Chinese perceptions of gender? Also, the article highlights three main eras of recent sexual thought in China: the first where sex was linked to health and sex became a topic of modernizing China, the second where Maoist leaders reverted to puritanical repression of sex, and the third where sex mirrored the first stage. What do you believe the next stage of thought about sex will be, and why?
Well, as shown in the article, China has been rather forbidding of sexuality since it started industrialization. As China shifts towards being more "modern", reports of China's youth indicate that high school students are physically maturing earlier - here in America we obviously have a ridiculous teenage pregnancy issue, one that China has been relatively safe from. Now that China is beginning to embrace being "modern" by discussing everything, will there be a large shift in urban teenage pregnancy rates in China? Is the Chinese government prepared to address these new issues - and if it is going to need to address these issues, what's the route that it's going to take? Revert back to what once worked before, forbiddance?
ReplyDeleteThe second article, "Marketing Femininity", mentions that in popular magazines, there is a discrepancy between the images and the texts. While the images often show women who represent the "erotic female image", but the text encourages women to be submissive to their husbands and act on his wishes before hers. Why is there this discrepancy between the pictures and text? If the models are supposed to represent women who are desirable, wouldn't that mean they should represent this within the cultural context?
ReplyDeleteIn the article on Marketing Femininity, there were some very interesting points about the effects of globalization and Westernization and Chinese gender relations. I would say that while in both nations, there is a gap between the women portrayed in the media and real women, the gap appears to be greater gap between the women portrayed in the Chinese media and most Chinese women, who "cannot afford to mimic the lifestyle of the beautiful women copiously displayed in the commercial media." I think it will be increasingly interesting to see how culture shifts as those who are old enough to remember pre-globalization years die. How do you think this will affect concepts of women and gender in China?
ReplyDeleteIn the article "Sexing Modern China", the author accredits the changing definitions of sexuality to desire and to the larger social implications of the time. Nonetheless, despite China's attempt to become more sexually "modernized," China still continues to refrain sexuality among its citizens. This can be seen through China's one-child policy in which forced abortions and female infanticide lead to the gender imbalance present among the population. I think that this predominately highlights one of the main differences between Western and Chinese gender relations. Females in the United States have attained more sexual freedom, whereas Chinese women are still expected to abide by the traditional Confucian values. In what ways are gender roles affected by the differing cultural values found in each country and why?
ReplyDeleteThe article "Sexing Modern China" is an interesting piece about the changing perceptions and definitions of sexuality in China. China has become more open in regards to sex. Is this new move toward exposed sexuality just another way for China to become more modern in order to compete with other nations of the West which have been this way? The author regularly discusses the idea that China is considered backward because of their strict and conservative sexual arrangements. Is China truly okay with sexually modernizing or does it only feel the pressure to evolve like other nations?
ReplyDeleteIn the article "Sexing Modern China", the reader learns about the idea of sexuality in China and its evolution through time. My question is that while China has become more modern in its views on sexuality and has taken steps towards more modern nations perceptions of sexuality, have people own morals and beliefs really changed? Do families still teach older values and principals in terms of sexuality, what is acceptable and what is condemned>? Do the citizens ideas all coincide with this modern approach to sexuality and sex, or is this something the nation is just trying to send out as a message, that China is modernizing, to get the approval of other nations?
ReplyDeleteSexing Modern China Questions:
ReplyDeleteWhat is considered a 'norm' in terms of openness of sexual behavior in a 'modern' society? How is that norm even measurable?
How can we establish the norms (universal norms) for sexual behaviors if they primarily rely on the cultural context and social practices of a particular society?
What is the criteria for measuring progress or change in modern China in terms of sex, including entertainment, public displays of affection, etc.?
Is 'sexing modern China' some sort of sexual revolution in this extremely fast growing and economically advancing country?
Are economic changes forcing Chinese to behave more Westernized when it comes to sex?
It is interesting that Western countries 'feel' comfortable doing business with Chinese if they behave in more Westernized way - so is modern/new China changing their unique culture, as well as their moral and traditional social standards for the sake of business relations with over-sexualized West?
In the Marketing Femininity article Evans brings up a very interesting point about the woman's role in gender hierarchy. Marketing femininity in china and the USA have many similarities, and this is one of them. Evans states that, 'as long as they [women] do not challenge mens's as well as women's understanding of gender hierarchy, men will continue to assume that their wives' main responsibility in life is to service them.' What is the most effective way to do this? What happens after the awareness exists? How much of an effect to women have upon gender hierarchy?
ReplyDeleteOn page 231 of "Marketing Femininity", the author says that "the opportunities and experiences [the clothes Chinese women wear] describe are far removed from the horizons of aspiration of most women." Would this be true for fashion trends in the United States as well?
ReplyDeleteAlso, on page 219, the author explains the return of femininity to China: based on this section, and the paragraphs prior to it, can one say that "femininity" is a western concept?
In many instances of the "Sexing Modern China" article, it compares the influence from the West to the traditional Eastern practices. At one point, Frank Dikotter discusses his findings in his book that "more ink spilled on questions of disease and danger than on questions of desire." In essence, society then was more concerned about the negative aspects or repercussions and less worried about the pleasure itself. If this is true, which would be more prevalant in today's society? What do the differences in the different mediums (ie. books, films, tv shows) have to say about people's desires? What about the educational aspect? Is sex discussed more in classrooms in terms of diseases/danger or in terms of desire? Should it be taught equally??? Grace Huang.
ReplyDeleteIn "Sexing Modern China", the writer often compares modern and historical China to the western world and America. Is China more or less sexually repressed than America? Are the attitudes toward sex more liberated than they were in the past in China?
ReplyDeleteWhen reading "Sexing Modern China", I found a lot of instances where the author was talking about how outsiders can't understand how sexuality is treated in China because they come with cultural biases. Even with knowledge of other countries, how easy is it for people to judge other countries through their own country's lens? Is it possible to overcome the bias and look at another culture on its own?
ReplyDeleteWhile I found the article well informed and interesting, I was troubled by the portrayal of Chinese society in Hershatter's "Sexing Modern China". Hershatter seems to speak of societal views on sex as it changes through out time only. The fragmentations in Chinese society are, for the most part, ignored in the article. Because the paper so heavily emphasizes the purpose of sex (procreation vs. fulfillment of sexual desire), I wonder if there are differences in perspective on sex between classes (those in agriculture vs. those in business) in China? Even today, China remains a highly polarized society - how does this affect the nation's view on sex? Is it uniform for the most part? What about differences in views on sex based on geography?
ReplyDelete