The Role of Women

1. The Role of Women Women in China

2. Women in Traditional China Women of all classes were valued less than men Wealthy families practiced foot-binding: Keep feet small and beautiful Keep girls at home and dependent on husband

3. Women in Traditional China cont. • In poor families had to help work in the fields • Girls often sold into slavery during hard times, infanticide also occurred • At very young ages, girls promised to other families through arranged marriages • Young brides were often mistreated by their mother-in-law

4. Women in China Today • Women today enjoy much equality with men in the work place and at home • Communist government that took over in 1950s • outlawed foot-binding • gave women equal rights • Arranged marriages are no longer encouraged • One child per family is encouraged by the government, family planning, birth control and abortions are available to the masses

5. Chinese Writing • Chinese was developed as a writing system by 1700 BCE • oldest continuously used writing system in the world • Early characters were pictographs • Later on Chinese developed ideographs

6. Standardization of writing was conducted by the First Emperor of Qin who unified China in 221 BCE Before that time, each of the many states in China had their own writing style Unification and Standardization

7. Education • Why is education a more effective than force in changing a society’s way of life? • When Communists took over in 1949, schools were built, writing system was simplified so that education was accessible to the masses

8. After watching the segment from “Joy Luck Club”, respond to the following question, (Your response should be at least a paragraph long, put some thought into this) : • How can you connect the ideas of Confucianism, women’s rights, family relationships, and roles in society to this situation, the girl in the arranged marriage?

9. Dynasty Assignment Per.2 • Shang – Clare, Owen • Zhou – Dylan, Bonnie • Qin – Jeff, Gillian, Nick R • Han – Chris, Carly • Tang – Ryan, Liz • Song – Mac, Libby • Yuan – Colin, Nick S • Ming – AJ, McKenna • Qing – Lisa, Dorry

10. Dynasty Assignments Per.4 – • Shang – Angelina, Amanda • Zhou – James, Katie, Shannon • Qin – Adam, Nicole • Han – Caroline, Bobby • Tang – Natalie, Henry • Song – Courtney, Brad Mc. • Yuan – Ivy, Eric, Jess • Ming – Alana, Patrick • Qing – Brad Mag., Hannah

11. Tonight’s homework: • Find one credible source with information on your dynasty, take good notes and collect accurate visuals of your dynasty. You will want to use your text book as well – this may be the best place to start. (p.292-304)