Women in the Song Dynasty-Blog 3

The subordination of women has been a universal problem in the world’s history. As mentioned in our text, women of the Song dynasty were stripped away from their freedom. This was due to the rise of the patriarchal restrictions that was accompanied by a rapid economic growth and the return of Confucianism. The perception of women was shaped by various ideas such as women being a distraction to men and therefore should be kept separate in every domain life unless otherwise summoned. Foot binding was another extreme form of tightening patriarchy, which was involved tight wrapping of young girls’ feet. This practice often resulted in breaking the bones of the foot and causing extreme pain. Foot binding is disturbing to me, but for the people of the Song dynasty it was associated with feminine beauty and had a deeper meaning.

The practice of foot binding was also used as a way to distinguish elite women from commoners and peasants, which was important because it enhanced marriage prospects. As the number of elite families flourished over time, the positions of women became even more controlled by men and society by pushing them into roles such as prostitutes, entertainers, or concubines.  This type of society limits the opportunities of women causing them to be forced into ways of life that are looked down upon by others, as well as, causing endless problems between women in elite households. Furthermore, it encourages a sense of hopelessness. The text does highlight that women did have some positive outcomes from the Song Dynasty. They were able to control their own dowries and inherit property from their families.

Reflecting on American history, without the brave efforts of the woman suffragettes, women today wouldn’t have the right to vote. Another example of women making a huge contribution to society was the Rosie the Riveter campaign during WWII that encouraged women to join the workforce to help support the war. These moments of history have paved the way for women to have rights and the opportunity to work. However, some aspects of society still remain unfair. For instance, women do not have equal pay in the workforce. Furthermore, the recent scandal with Harvey Weinstein is another example of women feeling oppressed by powerful men in their jobs and that there is indeed a power imbalance that is present in certain industries. Lastly, the Women’s March highlights the issue of subordination of women by no longer accepting the way women have been treated over the years. It is important to note that society has come a long way to allowing women to work alongside men, however as evident by recent news, changes still need to be made.