Does the field of Women's Studies in China provide a space/time for a dissident political point of view, way of thinking/being/living? To answer this question we have looked at the nature of the discourse, its authors, its public, its goals and means. The All China Women's Federation and Women's Studies within the academic circle have provided the ground for our investigation. A critical analysis has been done through a qualitative review of documents in English, written mainly by Chinese authors. The findings of our research have shown us that, indeed, Women's Studies in China provide a space/time for a dissident political point of view that we can term "feminism". However, the existence of this feminist space and voice is curtailed by the non-democratic political regime of China, making it, so far, a difficult but very promising balancing act. In fact, Women's Studies are at the root of the democratisation of China.

Does the field of Women's Studies in China provide a space/time for a dissident political point of view, way of thinking/being/living? To answer this question we have looked at the nature of the discourse, its authors, its public, its goals and means. The All China Women's Federation and Women's Studies within the academic circle have provided the ground for our investigation. A critical analysis has been done through a qualitative review of documents in English, written mainly by Chinese authors. The findings of our research have shown us that, indeed, Women's Studies in China provide a space/time for a dissident political point of view that we can term "feminism". However, the existence of this feminist space and voice is curtailed by the non-democratic political regime of China, making it, so far, a difficult but very promising balancing act. In fact, Women's Studies are at the root of the democratisation of China. / Arts, Faculty of / Asian Research, Institute of / Graduate