In this seminar, we will investigate gender and sexuality as key aspects of China’s process of modernization and nation building, from the late Qing dynasty through the Republican era, Communist revolution, and post-Mao economic reform. We will focus on topics such as marriage and polyandry, illicit sexual relations, sexual assault and rape, and feminist movements. Our guiding question throughout will be: when gender is used as a category of analysis, how does this influence our understanding of modern Chinese history? How have different ruling groups and ruling ideologies influenced gender relationship and sexuality? Which issues become prominent, and which recede? We will begin with readings on gender and sexuality under Qing rule, then trace changes following the fall of Empire, the rise of the “Woman question,” and the introduction of a legal code in the Republican era. We will spend the remainder of the semester closely examining gender, sexuality, and violence in the People’s Republic of China from its establishment through to the present, while keeping in mind both the legacies and differences with earlier periods of time.
Readings and discussions for this seminar will be in English. Written work may be submitted in either English or German.
- Enseignant: Man Zhang