Gender and Education in China: Gender Discourses and Women's Schooling in the Early Twentieth Century (Routledge Contemporary China Series)

Gender and Education in China analyzes the significance, impact and nature of women's public education in China from its beginnings at the turn of the twentieth century. Educational change was an integral aspect of the early twentieth century state-building and modernizing reforms implemented by the Qing dynasty as a means of strengthening the foundations of dynastic rule and reinvigorating China's economy and society to ward off the threat of foreign imperialism. A significant feature of educational change during this period was the emergence of official and non-official schools for girls. Using primary evidence such as official documents, newspapers and journals, Paul Bailey analyzes the different rationales for women's education provided by officials, educators and reformers, and charts the course and practice of women's education describing how young women responded to the educational opportunities made available to them. Demonstrating how the representation of women and assumptions concerning their role in the household, society and polity underpinned subsequent gender discourses throughout the rest of the century, Gender and Education in China will appeal to students and scholars of Chinese history, gender studies, women's studies as well as an interest in the history of education. Gender And Education In China Offers The First In-depth Study Of The Discourse And Practice Education For Girls In China, From Its Beginnings In The 1890s To The Early 1920s. Educational Change Was An Integral Aspect Of Early Twentieth-century State-building And Modernizing Reforms Implemented By The Qing Dynasty As A Means Of Reinvigorating China's Economy And Society, And This Was Evident With The Emergence Of Official And Non-official Schools For Girls. Using Primary Evidence Such As Government Documents, Newspapers, Journals And School Readers, Paul Bailey Analyses The Different Rationales For Women's Education Provided By Officials, Educators And Reformers, And Charts The Course And Practice Of This Education In Early Twentieth-century China.--book Jacket. 1. From Consumer To Producer : The Beginnings Of Public Education For Girls -- The New Schools 1902-1911: Expectations And Misgivings -- New Images And Representations Of Women In The Republican Transition -- Unharnessed Fillies? : The Modernising Conservative Agenda On Women's Education In The Early Republic -- The Woman Question And Education In The May Fourth Period. Paul J. Bailey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [224]-241) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Series-Title......Page 3 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Figures......Page 7 Tables......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 9 Abbreviations used in the notes......Page 11 Introduction......Page 12 1 From ‘consumer’ to ‘producer’: The beginnings of public education for girls......Page 23 2 The new schools 1902–1911: Expectations and misgivings......Page 45 3 New images and representations of women in the Republican transition......Page 78 4 ‘Unharnessed fillies’: The modernizing conservative agenda on women’s education in the early Republic......Page 94 5 The ‘woman question’ and education in the May Fourth period......Page 116 Conclusion......Page 131 Glossary of Chinese terms......Page 138 Notes......Page 153 Bibliography......Page 235 Index......Page 253 Using primary evidence such as official documents, newspapers and memoirs, Paul Bailey analyzes the significance, impact and nature of women's public education in China from its beginnings at the turn of the twentieth century.