Dualism Revisited

Everyone knows the Chinese are evil, nasty, people. At least that's the general consensus, whether we're willing to admit it or not. While I too fall victim to blindly criticizing most policy I hear on the news or in class about China, an interesting controversy broke out today with my professor regarding the nature of sex and gender roles in the world's largest nation. While the "progressives" here in the United States continue to fight daily for even more liberal definitions of gender and sexuality, it's interesting to see how the great "evil" in the East feels about the same issues. I took the following from an article by sociologist Harriet Evans discussed in my class on Society and Politics of China. It explains how the dynamic Chinese culture views these topics today.

"Views about the sexual component of marriage as set out in dominant discourses of gender and sexuality since 1949 have consistently been premised on two core principles. Whether offered in official publications, journals, or advice booklets to newlyweds, explanations of the sexual response and responsibilities of the married couple have first of all assumed that legally recognized monogamous marriage is the only legitimate framework for sexual relations. Advice about what are considered appropriate sexual attributes, needs, and responses in women (or men) is framed by the assumption that a [person’s] relationship is with their [spouse], their exclusive and lifelong sexual partner. Legitimate sexual conduct continues to be defined with reference to the legally recognized heterosexual relationship” (Evans, 342).

And we think the Chinese are backwards? Interesting.