Presentation Schedule
New Women and the (In)visible Men: Gender and Modernity in Republican China as Seen in the Film “New Women” (1935) (100397)
Session Chair: Bianca Yin-ki Cheung
Friday, 7 November 2025 10:15
Session: Session 1
Room: Room C (4F)
Presentation Type:Oral Presentation
The film "New Women" (1935), directed by Cai Chusheng and starring Ruan Lingyu, explores gender and modernity in Republican China through the heroine, Wei Ming. Despite her modern education and middle-class status, Wei Ming's struggle against societal oppression and sexual harassment reveals the challenges faced by "new women." The film does not define "new women" clearly but portrays typical features through various female characters, reflecting different trends in their marriage status and roles as professionals or housewives. Wei Ming, an educated and fashionable secondary school music teacher, faces sexual harassment from Dr. Wang, the school director, and struggles with financial hardship while supporting her sick daughter. In contrast, her friend A Ying, another educator, teaches progressive songs to female factory workers, embodying a more proletarian aspect of the "new woman." The film juxtaposes these two figures, questioning who should be the ideal "new woman." Men's roles, often neglected due to the focus on "new women," are crucial in shaping gender relations and defining modernity. From patriarchal father to abusive school director and journalist, to unreliable male comrade and lover, men's oppressive and/or unreliable actions significantly influence the struggles of new women. These interactions reveal the complexity of gender dynamics in Republican China. Through this analysis, I argue that while the film centers on "new women," it subtly underscores the significant impact of men in shaping gender relations and defining modernity. This nuanced portrayal invites reflection on societal structures that continue to influence female empowerment and gender equality.
Authors:
Bianca Yin-ki Cheung, Lingnan University, Hong Kong
About the Presenter(s)
Dr Bianca Yin-ki Cheung is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Lingnan University in Hong Kong
See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule
Conference Comments & Feedback
Place a comment using your LinkedIn profileShare this Presentation
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress