Gender and Revolution in Modern China
Spring 2009
Professor Dodgen
This course examines the definition and social meaning of gender and its relationship to
economic and social impacts on women in China since the late nineteenth century. Our goal will
be to sample widely the cultural and historical role played by gender in China’s modern
revolutionary experience.
Evaluation will be based on class participation, assigned presentations, and a final paper.
Written assignments will include a 3-5-page report on an assigned book, which will also be
presented orally to the class.
In addition, students will give two presentations on their research topic, one a preliminary
report on sources being pursued, topics under investigation, and problems and progress on the
work. This report requires no written material other than the ongoing bibliographic deadlines
assigned in the syllabus.
The second report will be a presentation of the student’s findings. The final research
paper will be due on the day scheduled for the final exam. The paper will be a minimum of 15
pages, typed, double-spaced, proofread and edited. Footnotes or endnotes must be in the Chicago
Manual of Style format.
Students are encouraged to come by to discuss their topics or research problems. My
office is Stevenson 2066, extension 42462. My e-mail address is dodgen@sonoma.edu. Office
hours are Monday and Wednesday 12:40-1:40, and Thursday after class by appointment.
Readings Assignments:
Class readings are drawn from JSTOR. These are articles from refereed journals that
discuss important aspects of Chinese experience in the modern period. Most of these articles
focus on the post-1949 period. The articles will be read by all members of the class and will form
the basis for discussion.
The book reports will be drawn from a bibliography provided with the syllabus. Each
student will choose a book to read and report on.
Jan. 28: Introduction
Feb. 12/19: Gender Before 1949
For an introduction to family in traditional China:
http://www.sonoma.edu/users/d/dodgen/syllabi/377/eastmanpg1.pdf
“Sexuality, Masculinity and Politics in Chinese Culture: The Case of the 'Sanguo' Hero Guan
Yu,” Kam Louie, Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 33, No. 4 (Oct., 1999), pp. 835-859, Cambridge
University Press.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/313102
“Manchu Widows and Ethnicity in Qing China,” Mark C. Elliott, Comparative Studies in Society
and History, Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan., 1999), pp. 33-71, Cambridge University Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/179248
“ Feminism and Nationalism in the Chinese Women's Press, 1902-1911,” Charlotte L. Beahan,
Modern China, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Oct., 1975), pp. 379-416, Sage Publications, Inc.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/188849
“The Penetrated Male in Late Imperial China: Judicial Constructions and Social Stigma,”
Matthew H. Sommer, Modern China, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Apr., 1997), pp. 140-180, Sage
Publications, Inc.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/189169
“State of the Field: Women in China's Long Twentieth Century,”
Gail Hershatter, The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 63, No. 4 (Nov., 2004), pp. 991-1065.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4133198
Feb. 26/March 5: Village Life and Love Life
“The Culture of Guanxi in a North China Village,” Yunxiang Yan
The China Journal, No. 35 (Jan., 1996), pp. 1-25,
Contemporary China Center, Australian National University
Stable URL: http://0-www.jstor.org.iii1.sonoma.edu:80/stable/2950274
“The Impact of Rural Reform on Economic and Social Stratification in a Chinese Village,”
Yunxiang Yan, The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs, No. 27 (Jan., 1992), pp. 1-23,
Contemporary China Center, Australian National University.
Stable URL: http://0-www.jstor.org.iii1.sonoma.edu:80/stable/2950024
“Aspects of Marriage in Three South-Western Villages,” Stevan Harrell,
The China Quarterly, No. 130 (Jun., 1992), pp. 323-337, Cambridge University Press on behalf
of the School of Oriental and African Studies.
Stable URL: http://0-www.jstor.org.iii1.sonoma.edu:80/stable/654404
“Courtship, Love and Premarital Sex in a North China Village,” Yunxiang Yan,
The China Journal, No. 48 (Jul., 2002), pp. 29-53,
Contemporary China Center, Australian National University
Stable URL: http://0-www.jstor.org.iii1.sonoma.edu:80/stable/3182440
“Virginity and Premarital Sex in Contemporary China ,” Xiao Zhou, Feminist Studies, Vol. 15,
No. 2, The Problematics of Heterosexuality. (Summer, 1989), pp. 279-288.
Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=00463663%28198922%2915%3A2%3C279%3AVAPSIC%3E2.0.CO%3B2-4
March 12: Planning and its discontents
Topics due. Write a paragraph or two describing your topic, how you plan to approach it, and
what issues scholars are emphasizing. Attach a preliminary bibliography (works which might
be relevant to the topic).
“Controlling Births and Bodies in Village China,” Susan Greenhalgh, American Ethnologist,
Vol. 21, No. 1 (Feb., 1994), pp. 3-30, Blackwell Publishing on behalf of the American
Anthropological Association.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/646519
“Family Planning and Women's Lives in Rural China,” Karen Hardee; Zhenming Xie; Baochang
Gu, International Family Planning Perspectives, Vol. 30, No. 2. (Jun., 2004), pp. 68-76.
Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=01903187%28200406%2930%3A2%3C68%3AFPAWLI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-C
“Prenatal Sex Determination and Sex-Selective Abortion in Rural Central China,” Chu Junhong,
Population and Development Review, Vol. 27, No. 2 (Jun., 2001), pp. 259-281.
Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=00987921%28200106%2927%3A2%3C259%3APSDASA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-I
March 19/26: Economics and Other Affairs
“Impact of Household Contract System on Women in Rural China,” Govind Kelkar, Economic
and Political Weekly, Vol. 20, No. 17 (Apr. 27, 1985), pp. WS39-W48, Economic and Political
Weekly.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4374340
“Migration and Privatization of Space and Power in Late Socialist China,” Li Zhang,
American Ethnologist, Vol. 28, No. 1 (Feb., 2001), pp. 179-205, Blackwell Publishing on behalf
of the American Anthropological Association.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3095120
“Unequal Chances, Unequal Outcomes: Pension Reform and Urban Inequality”
Deborah Davis, The China Quarterly, No. 114 (Jun., 1988), pp. 223-242,
Cambridge University Press on behalf of the School of Oriental and African Studies.
Stable URL: http://0-www.jstor.org.iii1.sonoma.edu:80/stable/654443
April 2: Brides, Sex and Beauty
“Buying Brides in China-Again,” Hill Gates, Anthropology Today, Vol. 12, No. 4. (Aug., 1996),
pp. 8-11.
Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0268540X%28199608%2912%3A4%3C8%3ABBIC%3E2.0.CO%3B2-6
“Waves of Rural Brides: Female Marriage Migration in China,” C. Cindy Fan and Youqin
Huang, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 88, No. 2 (Jun., 1998), pp.
227-251, Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of the Association of American Geographers.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2564209
“Scripting Extramarital Affairs: Marital Mores, Gender Politics, and Infidelity in Taiwan,” JuiShan Chang, Modern China, Vol. 25, No. 1. (Jan., 1999), pp. 69-99.
Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=00977004%28199901%2925%3A1%3C69%3ASEAMMG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-W
“Sexual "Liberation" and the Older Woman in Contemporary Mainland China,” Jeanne L. Shea,
Modern China, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Jan., 2005), pp. 115-147, Published by: Sage Publications, Inc.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20062602
“Fashioning Appearances: Feminine Beauty in Chinese Communist Revolutionary Culture,”
Hung-Yok Ip, Modern China, Vol. 29, No. 3 (Jul., 2003), pp. 329-361, Sage Publications, Inc.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3181296
April 9: Politics
“Women and Political Participation in China,” Stanley Rosen, Pacific Affairs, Vol. 68, No. 3
(Autumn, 1995), pp. 315-341, University of British Columbia.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2761128
“He Zhen and Anarcho-Feminism in China,” Peter Zarrow, The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol.
47, No. 4 (Nov., 1988), pp. 796-813, Association for Asian Studies.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2057853
"Yearnings": Televisual Love and Melodramatic Politics in Contemporary China,” Lisa B. Rofel,
American Ethnologist, Vol. 21, No. 4 (Nov., 1994), pp. 700-722, Blackwell Publishing on behalf
of the American Anthropological Association.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/646836
"Gender and Internal Orientalism in China," Louisa Schein, Modern China, Vol. 23, No. 1 (Jan.,
1997), pp. 69-98, Sage Publications, Inc.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/189464
“To Screw Foreigners is Patriotic: China's Avant-Garde Nationalist,” Geremie R. Barme,
The China Journal, No. 34 (Jul., 1995), pp. 209-234, Contemporary China Center, Australian
National University.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2950138
April 23: Outline and full bibliography due. Book Reports.
April 30: No class: research assignment.
May 7: Begin Final Presentations
May 14: Final Presentations
Final presentations
Guidelines for final presentations can be found at:
http://www.sonoma.edu/users/d/dodgen/syllabi/Guidelines_for_final_presentations.doc