published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

“Shengnü” (“leftover women”) has become a popular discourse in China during recent years. In existing literature and media coverage, discussion on shengnü often draws on population gender imbalance, western individualization theories, and women’s “too picky” mating criteria. Seeing beyond these perspectives, this research aims to problematize the myth of shengnü by explicating how this social phenomenon indicates the changing gender landscape and emerging new femininity in modern China. The empirical study is based on in-depth interviews with 36 women regarding their lived experience of partner selection through xiangqin (matchmaking). Their experience of participating in commercial xiangqin (matchmaking websites, matchmaking fairs, high-end matchmaking clubs, marriage hunting, and matchmaking TV shows) and parents-arranged xiangqin are investigated. Findings in the research demonstrate that empowered by a series of social structural changes in reform-era China, modern women have rising expectations in partner selection and they possess greater control over intimate relationship. It is argued that xiangqin in contemporary China provides a stage for rising new Chinese femininity characterized by pragmatic idealism. To maximize their gain in the marriage market, from modern commercialized xiangqin to “old fashioned” parents-arranged xiangqin, modern Chinese women proactively seize every opportunity to approach potential partners. However, while engaging in xiangqin, the practice in which the purpose of partner selection is directly and pragmatically foregrounded, they have not given up the romantic pursuit in their relationship ideal. The central discourse of “gan jue (感觉feelings)” in their mating concerns suggests that they consciously avoid downgrading themselves as slaves of pragmatism and proudly distinguish themselves from women of pervious generations who satisfy with conventional pattern of intimacy that centers on “da huo guo ri zi (搭伙过日子making a mundane living together)”. When dealing with intergenerational dynamics in partner selection, although they make conditional compromise pertaining to intimacy and resource flows between generations, they also demarcate their non-negotiable territory. This research helps to problematize the indefinable essence and transcendental nature in Western theorization of love; it also contributes to question existing literature that pragmatism and materialism dominate contemporary Chinese love culture under the context of market economy. It reveals that constraining cultural and structural forces still limit single women’s bargaining power in current Chinese society; and modern Chinese women make different kinds of adjustments to expand their life opportunities. Through frankly articulating their materially grounded concerns in partner selection, they redefine romance in precarious social environment and stage new morality in post-socialist China. By sticking to a “bu cou huo (不凑合no compromise)” stance in their pursuit of love, they demonstrate their persistence and strength as modern Chinese women. Their relevant site-specific femininity performance also exemplifies the flexibility of modern women in achieving their life ambitions. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

by Siu Sun Yuk-Bui Yvonne. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1980. / Bibliography: leaves 140-145.

稿本(電腦打印本) / Thesis (M.A.)--香港中文大學. / Gao ben (dian nao da yin ben) / Includes bibliographical references. / Thesis (M.A.)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue. / Chapter 第一章 --- 引言 --- p.1 / Chapter 第二章 --- 文獻回顧 --- p.8 / Chapter 第三章 --- 硏究方法 --- p.56 / Chapter 第四章 --- 姑婆（191´4ؤ ) / 貫徹「做到老、學到老」的信念 --- p.78 / Chapter 第五章 --- 鍾婆婆（192´1ؤ ) / 英雄無用武之地的遺憾 --- p.106 / Chapter 第六章 --- 梁婆婆（192´2ؤ ) / 在兩次婚姻失敗中求存 --- p.135 / Chapter 第七章 --- 李伯母（192´1ؤ ) / 一生篤信基督信仰 --- p.163 / Chapter 第八章 --- 討論 --- p.207 / Chapter 附錄一 --- 區婆婆（1906 226}0ؤ ) / 一位富家小姐的生活 --- p.226 / Chapter 附錄二 --- 蔡婆婆（190´2ؤ ) / 一位「妹仔」的生活 --- p.245 / 註釋 / 書目

冼韻姬. / "2004年7月". / "性別研究及傳播學課程". / 論文(哲學碩士)--香港中文大學, 2004. / 附參考文獻. / 附中英文摘要. / "2004 nian 7 yue". / "Xing bie yan jiu ji chuan bo xue ke cheng". / Xian Yunji. / Lun wen (zhe xue shuo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2004. / Fu can kao wen xian. / Fu Zhong Ying wen zhai yao. / 論文摘要 / Chapter 第一章 --- 引言 --- p.1-7 / Chapter ´Ø --- 硏究範圍 / Chapter ´Ø --- 本土性別文化議題 / Chapter ´Ø --- 硏究目的及重要性 / Chapter ´Ø --- 論文結構 / Chapter 第二章 --- 文獻回顧 --- p.8-27 / Chapter ´Ø --- 社會建構主義 / Chapter ´Ø --- 語言構建性別 / Chapter ´Ø --- 隱藏的弱勢 / Chapter ´Ø --- 論述定義 / Chapter ´Ø --- 論述理論 / Chapter ´Ø --- 論述變革 / Chapter 第三章 --- 硏究設計 --- p.28-35 / Chapter ´Ø --- 設計原則 / Chapter ´Ø --- 抽樣原則 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶用語系譜 / Chapter ´Ø --- 電視論述 / Chapter ´Ø --- 日常生活論述 / Chapter 第四章 --- 分析 / 起源 --- p.36-42 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶的起源 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶的使用方式 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶的意味 / 隱沒 --- p.43-73 / Chapter ´Ø --- 隱沒於經濟發展 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶的脫節生活 / Chapter ´Ø --- 隱沒於居住空間 / Chapter ´Ø --- 電視的文化對焦 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶的替身 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶的典型共相 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶「騎呢化」 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶瑣碎化 / Chapter ´Ø --- 電視文本在生活 / Chapter ´Ø --- 原始師奶 / Chapter ´Ø --- 八婆師奶 / Chapter ´Ø --- 隱形師奶 / 再現 --- p.74-100 / Chapter ´Ø --- 再現的年代脈絡 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶的舊調再現 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶的重生？ / Chapter ´Ø --- 論述迴響 / Chapter ´Ø --- 論述蛻變 / Chapter ´Ø --- 誇越性別 / Chapter ´Ø --- 誇越年齡 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶與女強人 / Chapter ´Ø --- 日常裡的師奶仔 / Chapter ´Ø --- 生活中的幸福師奶 / Chapter ´Ø --- 顛覆本錢 / Chapter 第五章 --- 總結：師奶的約束與解放 --- p.101-111 / Chapter ´Ø --- 師奶論述的運作 / Chapter ´Ø --- 隱現的性別價値 / Chapter ´Ø --- 再現的論述解放 / Chapter ´Ø --- 弱勢電視與多元性別 / Chapter ´Ø --- 約束與解放 / 參考資料 / 附錄 / Chapter 一、 --- 被訪者資料 / Chapter 二、 --- 人口統計資料 / Chapter 三、 --- 電視文本硏究資料

Gender relations as well as the social situation of Manchu women have long been ignored in studies of the cultural evolution of the Manchu. By setting the discussion of Manchu women in the context of cultural adaptation, this study reintroduces gender and women's problems into the research on the Manchu culture by outlining the social changes in Manchu society over 300 years, which in turn have affected the social position of Manchu women. A literature review provides a theoretical framework to the understanding of the interaction between the social system of Manchu society and environmental stress. An emphasis is laid on the role of the state in cultural evolution and its influence on Manchu women. Two factors significantly affecting Manchu women's lives are the introduction of the Banner system and the process of systematic sinification. Cultural assimilation and maintenance are also major topics covered in this study. The results of a field investigation at Outer Firearm Camp In Beijing reveal a pattern of a mixture of Han and Manchu customs, which serves as a good example of how a cultural system be partially destroyed and partially preserved in the process of adaptation, and how women's status remains higher among the Manchu than among the Han. The Manchu's basic cultural value system with its emphasis on women's equality has proven to be remarkably stable despite many social adaptations to extreme pressures from the outside world. / Graduation date: 1996 / Best scan available for p.53 and p.106.

published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing in Advanced Practice

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Under every regime, marriage is one of the essential factors to affect the development of a country. Before the Tang Dynasty, the divorce system was already practiced in the Chinese society due to the long lasting ancient rites. In ancient China, ‘qichu’ and ‘yijue’ were the typical and traditional divorce ways, but not under the legal system. Under these systems, women got divorce with no consent always happened. The low status of women under the divorce system was obvious. In Tang Dynasty, the ancient feudal law with perfect contents was existed, which was ‘The Tang Law Dredges Opinion’. It innovated the marriage law in the Chinese history. Apart from the ‘qichu’ and ‘yijue’ divorce system, the ‘divorce with consent’ system is an important part of marriage law to show the status of women improved to some extent in Tang Dynasty. Under ‘divorce with consent’ system, women had the right to take the initiative to dissolve the marriage relationship. Based on the historical records and materials, such as ‘releasing wife book’, poems and epitaphs in Tang Dynasty, this paper would analysis the reality of practicing the ‘divorce with consent’ system and the influence of this system about the women’s status in Tang Dynasty. On the other hand, the reasons about the Tang emperors established this system also reflected the rise of women’s status in the certain extent, for instances, economic, political and cultural aspects. The paper contains two parts. The first part focuses on the practice about the traditional divorce systems before the Tang Dynasty. The historical course about the change of names on the divorce systems is briefly recorded. The practice about ‘qichu’, ‘yijue’ and ‘divorce with consent’ system are analyzed by the historical materials before Tang Dynasty in order to show the difference about the women’s status in the second part. The second part mainly focuses on analyzing ‘divorce with consent’ system in Tang Dynasty with the women’s relationship. The ‘releasing wife book’, poems and epitaphs is going to demonstrate the practice of the ‘divorce with consent’ system. This part would analyze the structure and content of the ‘releasing wife book’ in details. The words and procedures reflect the characteristics about women under the law of marriage. Besides, the Tang emperors set up the ‘divorce with consent’ system also had the consideration about their ruling. These specific concerns had close relationship with the legal marriage system. Therefore, women’s status must be affected by their ruling policy undoubtedly. / published_or_final_version / Chinese Historical Studies / Master / Master of Arts