Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2012, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (6): 204-219.

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Gender, Power, and Ancient Females in Hainan

  

  1. HUANG Shuyao, College of Politics and Law，Hainan Normal University
  • Online:2012-11-20 Published:2012-11-20
  • Contact: HUANG Shuyao, College of Politics and Law，Hainan Normal University. E-mail： onlyshuyao@163.com E-mail:onlyshuyao@163.com

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Abstract:

Construction of social gender has become an important area in observing and analyzing social structure. From this perspective to review the interaction between Han people and Li people in the history of Hainan Island, we find that this interaction is in essence a collision of two different gender cultures. Through recognizing and conferring power to the LiDong chieftain over the Dong (the basic organization of Li people), the central regime gained acknowledgement and compromise from Li people, and established male dominance in politics. In both marriage and economics, however, the traditional female roles in the Han culture were constantly challenged and changed by the Li culture, resulting in the phenomenon of “women working while men resting” that was threatening to men’s status quo. By means of the male dominance in the political sector, men promoted the ideology that “men are born to go to school; if unable to get scholarly success, then turn to acquiring fishing skills” and connected “women working” to the role of supporting “men for education,” thus degrading the social value of female behavior and legitimizing “women farming and men schooling.” Along with the establishment and reinforcement of the patriarchal system on Hainan Island, the outstanding contribution of women in economy did not bring about true independence or real freedom to them. Instead, the custom of “women working while men resting” in actuality lowered Hainan women’s social status and burdened them, much worse than those in the inland. As a result, the gender relationship expressed in “women farming while men schooling” eventually evolved into another kind of gender oppression, a unique patriarchal cultural representation of “men being the first” in Hainan.

Key words: gender, gender power, gender culture, ancient females in Hainan