The long march to modernity: from 'Three Inch Golden Lotus' to working mom - the transformation of Chinese women

A Historical Association and University of Plymouth History department talk.

How has a century of war and revolution changed the lives of Chinese women? Their journey from the late Qing to the post-Mao period provides a unique window through which to examine the recent Chinese past.

In this talk Professor Yang-wen Zheng, University of Manchester, will trace the lives of women and their long march to modernity. Why did women respond to change more enthusiastically than men? Why have historians ignored older women – mothers, mothers-in-law and grandmothers – who were the real oppressors of women? To what extent can we say that women were the beneficiaries of a century's war and revolution? What happens when we compare them with their counterparts in neighbouring as well as Western countries?

Yang-wen is a Professor of Chinese History with a background in Ming-Qing maritime trade and patterns/cultures of consumption.

As part of this talk you are also invited to participate in a live Q&A session with the speakers.