Feminist Theory in Chinese Ghost Stories and Fox Tales

Feminist Approach to Chinese Ghost Stories

While the role of women in China has changed drastically, the history of Chinese women's studies is clearly based in repression and servitude. Today the women of communist China have gained equality but this liberation has slowly evolved from a history of oppression. When examining the significance of women in the Chinese culture, and their role in the society both past and present it is important to consider the literary works of ancient China. Since so much of China's rich history is embedded within the pages of ancient Chinese ghost stories and fox tales, conclusions can be drawn about various aspects of Chinese civilization through the study of these works. The feminist perspective is no exception to this as there are an abundance of stories that include female characters who are vital to the plots of these tales. So while a broader Chinese history can be extracted from Chinese ghost stories and fox tales, it is clear that a relevant representation of Chinese women's history is also chronicled.

Before understanding the role of women in Chinese ghost stories and fox tales it is of the utmost importance to understand the extensive history of the women role in China and how the cultures view of women has evolved from past to present. For thousands of years in the ancient China women lived under the ethical rule of the Confucian way, set forth by the master himself and his analects. Confucian belief was that women were not equal to men, nor were they worthy of a proper education. Other than these restricting guidelines Confucius hardly mentions women at all in his teachings, which in it self shows a great deal about his perspective on women; inferior and unimportant.

Within the Confucian family structure women are always submissive to their male counterpart. From birth till death it seems that women from the ancient Chinese cultures were in a position of service to men. At first women are expected to be submissive to their father's and brother's, gaining little or no respect as a member of the family unit. Conditions seem unchanged still after marriage as women are then confined to the authority of her husband. Much like was the case with a women's father, she was now expected to obey her husband with out resistance.

As was practice in ancient China, men often had several wives, while this was unacceptable for women as it would be a sign of disobedience and disloyalty. Even after her husband died, it was frowned upon for that woman to be re-married. Sometimes even a women's mother in law would even gain dominance over them. This often time was another representation of a cruel confining relationship.

Lastly, yet probably most disconcerting part of ancient Chinese