20 Recurrent Themes in Chinese Civilization: “the Position of Women”

This lecture focuses on the Position of Women in Chinese imperial history, in terms of its relation to the patrilineal concept of the family and its exceptions in different contexts. Starting from a perspective of sexual references, it further explores the reason for women’s inferior role in the past. This lecture also provides basic fact and possible explanation to the long-existing practice of foot-binding. It offers an insight into the relationship between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. This lecture concludes with a restatement of its generalizing and abstracting nature.