History

• Confucius, a Chinese philosopher who lived from 551 to 479 B.C, developed the concept of the "three obediences" of women. These rules stated that before getting married a woman was to obey her father, and while married she was to show complete obedience to her husband. Should her husband die, she is to obey her son.
  
  

Variations

• China is a diverse nation, with many ethnic groups, belief systems, and standards for gender-specific behavior. For example, while the Han Chinese practiced the tradition of footbinding, other groups living in China such as the Manchu and Hakka did not. Women in these groups had varied social roles that were not defined by majority Chinese cultural norms.
  
  

Considerations

• 20th century China saw developments in the field of gender equality. To create a modern China separate from Western or classical Chinese influences, Mao Zedong attempted to change gender social role formation by way of the Cultural Revolution. He declared that "women hold up half the sky" and demanded they work on equal terms and take on the same social roles as men.