This thesis explores issues of subjectivity and gender around ritual activity in Xianyou county, Fujian Province, China. It focuses on three groups of women: Buddhist nuns, mediums and village women engaged in the ritual caretaking of their families. It also examines a spirit writing text from the late Qing dynasty (1644-1911). It is suggested that subject positions and kin positions are to a certain extent coextensive and that participation in certain rituals is what constitutes one as a gendered subject (as a "woman") and in certain kin roles (as wife, daughter-in-law, etc.). Other gendered subject positions (such as that of melancholic lover) are explored in an attempt to complicate any simple determinism that might accompany to easy a correspondence of kin position with sex role.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

This study proceeds on the assumption that maternal discourse in the West, according to Kristeva, is repressed, which has resulted in the serious fracture of the mother-daughter relationship and seeks to isolate a restorative model in contemporary Chinese culture. Chapter One explores the feminist claim that this fractured relationship is the result of patriarchal oppressions (and the cause of twice as many women than men suffering depression) and attempts to reconcile feminist psychology with Kristeva‟s thesis that abjection per se is the cause of widespread depression among women. The next chapter delineates the features of a cross-cultural feminist analysis, which includes exploring notions of Foucaultian and Lacanian discourse, by situating gender as a tool within the context of feminist and postcolonial perspectives. An argument is made that cinema is a privileged site to cull material from which to probe discourses on m/other and the thesis of a sunken maternal metaphor across all cinematic genres is demonstrated. Contemporary Chinese culture is scrutinized for possibly curative discourses and Bourdieu‟s idea of „rebel‟ and „orthodox‟ discourse models is employed to this end. After finding dominant discourse on gender in contemporary Chinese societies unsatisfactory for this purpose, I examine three contemporary Chinese films, with Gong Li as the female lead, in which I unearth two rebel discourses on m/otherhood. I argue that men and boys need to be encouraged to develop their aptitude and skills to nurture and care. This will allow women much needed space and time to come to terms with themselves and their own needs. In short, women and especially m/others, worn-out from guilt and expectations, are desperate for nurturance themselves.

published_or_final_version / Asian Studies / Master / Master of Arts

Lau Hoi Leung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-144). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / 論文摘要 --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.iii-iv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Research Background --- p.1-2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Research Puzzle and Questions --- p.2-7 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research Objectives --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- Layout of the Thesis --- p.8-10 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review and Integrated Framework / Chapter 2.1 --- Overview --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2 --- Role Division: Ralph Turner's Role Theory as an Interpretative Framework --- p.11-18 / Chapter 2.3 --- Marginalization of Sissy: Hegemonic Masculinity as an Interpretative Framework --- p.18-26 / Chapter 2.4 --- Michel Foucault's Concept of Power as an Analytical Framework --- p.26-30 / Chapter 2.5 --- Queer Theory as a Reflexive Framework --- p.30-35 / Chapter 2.6 --- Integrated Framework --- p.35-37 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Methodology / Chapter 3.1 --- Overview --- p.38-39 / Chapter 3.2 --- Participant Observation: Building Trust and Rapport in TLBC --- p.39-41 / Chapter 3.3 --- In-depth Interviews: Tracing Life Stories of Local Gay Men --- p.41-44 / Chapter 3.4 --- Documentary Analysis: Internet Message Boards as Islands of Discourse --- p.44-45 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- The Division of Roles in the Hong Kong Gay Community / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.46 / Chapter 4.2 --- The Popularity and Origin of Role Division --- p.46-51 / Chapter 4.3 --- The Three Principles of Role Differentiation --- p.51-55 / Chapter 4.4 --- The Role Making Process as a Continuum 、 --- p.55-58 / Chapter 4.5 --- The Transition or Shifting of Roles 5 --- p.8-60 / Chapter 4.6 --- The Intimate Relationship between Roles --- p.60-63 / Chapter 4.7 --- The Self-Recognition of Role --- p.63-66 / Chapter 4.8 --- Concluding Remarks: The Process of Doing Gender and Role Division --- p.66-67 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- The Marginalization of Sissy Gay Men in the Hong Kong Gay Community / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.68 / Chapter 5.2 --- Defining Sissy Gay Man as Effeminacy in a Male Body --- p.68-71 / Chapter 5.3 --- Marginalization from Within: Gay Men's Panic on Gender Nonconformity --- p.71-78 / Chapter 5.4 --- Marginalization from Within: Gay Men's Panic on Public Disclosure --- p.78-82 / Chapter 5.5 --- Diversification from Within: Gay Men's Support on the Unity of Gay Community --- p.82-84 / Chapter 5.6 --- Concluding Remarks: Hegemonic Masculinity as an Underlying Mechanism --- p.84-86 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Negotiating Heteronormative Discourse in the Hong Kong Gay Community / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.87 / Chapter 6.2 --- The Archaeology of Heteronormative Discourse --- p.87-90 / Chapter 6.3 --- The Genealogy of Disciplinary Power over Gay Male --- p.90-95 / Chapter 6.4 --- The Technology of the Self among the Gay --- p.95-99 / Chapter 6.5 --- Concluding Remarks: Power of Body as an Unfulfilled Project --- p.99-101 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Queering the Gay Community: Gay Men's Perception on Hong Kong Tongzhi Movement / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.102 / Chapter 7.2 --- Historical Background of the Development of Hong Kong Tongzhi Groups --- p.102-105 / Chapter 7.3 --- Past and Present Development of Hong Kong Tongzhi Groups --- p.105-113 / Chapter 7.4 --- Gay Men's Perceptions on Hong Kong Tongzhi Groups --- p.113-119 / Chapter 7.5 --- Concluding Remarks: Framing and the Mobilization of Queer Consciousness --- p.119-122 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Conclusion and Reflection: Towards a Queering Space --- p.123-130 / Appendix --- p.131-136 / Bibliography --- p.137-143 / Chinese Bibliography --- p.144

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

In the 1970s, international development planners began to recognize women's important roles in their communities. A variety of approaches to include women have since evolved, and their merits are debated. They have been described in the literature as "welfare," "Women-in-Development" (WID), and "Gender and Development" (GAD). The welfare approach focuses on basic needs while strengthening women's homemaker and reproductive roles. The WID approach is based on increasing women's incomes as a means toward empowerment. The Gender and Development (GAD) addresses systemic gender discrimination. There is need for research in development planning. Development programs track results during the project, but seldom look at long term impacts and sustainability. This thesis reports the results of research on a 1991 WID efficiency approach, women's income generation project in Shaanxi Province, China, by examining the impact seven years later. My methodology involved interviews with twenty-one women project participants, eight husbands, village leaders and informal lunch-hour focus group discussions with villagers. The project involved transition from grain to orchards. The orchards dramatically increased women's incomes and improved the quality of village life. The women took full control of orchard management, pushing men out of the orchards saying that they were "incapable" of the monotonous orchard tasks. Most husbands found off-farm jobs, diversifying household incomes. Women gained marketing skills, self-confidence, and financial independence, but remained vulnerable as primary producers to income fluctuations. Most women stayed outside village politics, and traditional gender role socialization was maintained. The project fulfilled women's needs and interests, however, long term results for women are mixed. The Shaanxi field project was one of sixty-six field projects under the Canada- China Women-in-Development Project (1990-1995) implemented in partnership by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the All-China Women's Federation. The project had two components: poverty reduction and institutional strengthening of the Women's Federation. I was the Canadian co-manager of the Canada-China WID Project, and have since completed more than thirty contracts (fifteen projects) plus a two-year contract as co-manager of the Canada-China Women's Law Project (one year of which was full-time in China). My research is intended to assist and improve my future work in the development field, and to inform those interested in women's development program planning and gender equality policy. Good planning was key to the strength of the Canada-China WID Project. Partners shared a common goal. CIDA's efficiency approach supported the Women's Federation policy to bring women into production as a means of achieving equality. Participatory planning and decision-making involved Federation project officers across China. Delegation in management and clear, commonly set guidelines increased partners' involvement and accountability. Power in planning gradually, and tacitly, transferred to the Women's Federation as they assumed ownership and responsibility for results. Strong donor/recipient partnership and participatory planning processes strengthen potential for sustainable results. Suggestions to improve women's development planning include: increasing gender awareness, strengthening women's interest and capacity in political participation, developing risk mitigation strategies to lessen income insecurity, blending WID/GAD projects, and further research on project impacts.

In the 1970s, international development planners began to recognize women's important roles in their communities. A variety of approaches to include women have since evolved, and their merits are debated. They have been described in the literature as "welfare," "Women-in-Development" (WID), and "Gender and Development" (GAD). The welfare approach focuses on basic needs while strengthening women's homemaker and reproductive roles. The WID approach is based on increasing women's incomes as a means toward empowerment. The Gender and Development (GAD) addresses systemic gender discrimination. There is need for research in development planning. Development programs track results during the project, but seldom look at long term impacts and sustainability. This thesis reports the results of research on a 1991 WID efficiency approach, women's income generation project in Shaanxi Province, China, by examining the impact seven years later. My methodology involved interviews with twenty-one women project participants, eight husbands, village leaders and informal lunch-hour focus group discussions with villagers. The project involved transition from grain to orchards. The orchards dramatically increased women's incomes and improved the quality of village life. The women took full control of orchard management, pushing men out of the orchards saying that they were "incapable" of the monotonous orchard tasks. Most husbands found off-farm jobs, diversifying household incomes. Women gained marketing skills, self-confidence, and financial independence, but remained vulnerable as primary producers to income fluctuations. Most women stayed outside village politics, and traditional gender role socialization was maintained. The project fulfilled women's needs and interests, however, long term results for women are mixed. The Shaanxi field project was one of sixty-six field projects under the Canada- China Women-in-Development Project (1990-1995) implemented in partnership by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the All-China Women's Federation. The project had two components: poverty reduction and institutional strengthening of the Women's Federation. I was the Canadian co-manager of the Canada-China WID Project, and have since completed more than thirty contracts (fifteen projects) plus a two-year contract as co-manager of the Canada-China Women's Law Project (one year of which was full-time in China). My research is intended to assist and improve my future work in the development field, and to inform those interested in women's development program planning and gender equality policy. Good planning was key to the strength of the Canada-China WID Project. Partners shared a common goal. CIDA's efficiency approach supported the Women's Federation policy to bring women into production as a means of achieving equality. Participatory planning and decision-making involved Federation project officers across China. Delegation in management and clear, commonly set guidelines increased partners' involvement and accountability. Power in planning gradually, and tacitly, transferred to the Women's Federation as they assumed ownership and responsibility for results. Strong donor/recipient partnership and participatory planning processes strengthen potential for sustainable results. Suggestions to improve women's development planning include: increasing gender awareness, strengthening women's interest and capacity in political participation, developing risk mitigation strategies to lessen income insecurity, blending WID/GAD projects, and further research on project impacts. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate