"Women as Constructed: Contemporary Gender Theory"

Author: Shen Yifei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: In life, we often ask our family and friends, and even ourselves, such questions: Why is getting married and having children women's destiny? Are women really overly meticulous? Is the "man outside, woman inside" model the best family structure? Should women always be like that? Can't men be like that? I might get some answers, answers that sound reasonable at first, but upon closer examination, many of them fail to convince us. Have you ever considered that these commonly accepted "reasonable" views might not be as correct as we think? The Constructed Female reexamines people's experiences and growth processes from the pervasive gender culture in everyday life, and reflects on the culture behind these experiences and growth. Common sense isn't always right, and it's certainly not self-evident. We live in a world predestined with a binary opposition between men and women, and the dogmas about what constitutes a man or a woman often bind us, making our naturally light steps feel unnecessarily heavy. The discrimination based on gender always appears in our lives with a mask of being inherent and natural, as if it's unshakable. In reality, if we think deeper and take one step forward, perhaps the boundaries between men and women are not as clear as we assume, or they might not even exist. The reason we are the men and women we are today may have little to do with biology and more to do with culture. In this culture, women are often discriminated against, and men also suffer immensely. We need to challenge the so-called gender boundaries from all angles, challenge the so-called gender stereotypes, and challenge the so-called common sense. This new perspective is very interesting, and the author's views are fresh and incisive. In life, there are many frameworks that constrain us from finding ourselves, and some of these frameworks are entirely unnecessary. Understanding how we become women and men, why we are the men and women we are today, and whether we should become the standardized men and women—we need to know this to find the life we truly want. Only by breaking free from these frameworks can we broaden the horizons of life, live more freely and authentically, and enjoy life. Whether you are a man or a woman, whether you are a feminist or not, you should be aware of the gender culture imposed on you by society. Everyone can adopt a different perspective to view the world, live in a different way, and get closer to their inner selves. The Constructed Female reexamines people's experiences and growth processes from the pervasive gender culture in everyday life, and reflects on the culture behind these experiences and growth. Common sense isn't always right, and it's certainly not self-evident. We live in a world predestined with a binary opposition between men and women, and the dogmas about what constitutes a man or a woman often bind us, making our naturally light steps feel unnecessarily heavy. The discrimination based on gender always appears in our lives with a mask of being inherent and natural, as if it's unshakable. In reality, if we think deeper and take one step forward, perhaps the boundaries between men and women are not as clear as we assume, or they might not even exist. This book systematically elaborates on the social gender theory that has emerged in the field of international women's studies in recent years. It argues that the gender differences and inequalities in real life are not caused by biological gender but are constructed by long-term social culture. Therefore, achieving gender equality fundamentally lies in the reconstruction of social culture. Centered on this idea, the book discusses gender-oriented aspects of discourse, customs, religion, social systems, etc., and explores the relationship between women and society, family, sexual life, employment, and more. As a work by a female scholar on women's studies, this book examines social phenomena and historical culture from a female perspective, offering fresh and original views, sharp and avant-garde analysis, and lively, engaging writing. It is a vibrant and innovative academic work.