Mittler, Barbara, “Defy(N)ing Modernity: Women in Shanghai's Early News-Media (1872-1915)” (2003)

Title : “Defy(N)ing Modernity: Women in Shanghai's Early News-Media (1872-1915)”

Author(s) : Mittler, Barbara

Year : 2003

Type : Journal article

Subject : History

Keywords : women;gender;culture;press

Journal : Jindai zhongguo funu shi yanjiu

Volume : 11

Start page : 215

End page : 259

Language:Name : English

Support : Print

Abstract : Images of women in the Shanghai media betrayed the controversial understanding of new women in China during the late Qing period. Though pictorials depicted women's images to the public, some editorials suggested that the traditional family role of women was more appropriate for the happiness of the family. Advertisements targeting women implied that women's role was to produce offspring. Reports on women varied from traditional praise of women's chastity to pursuit of the people responsible for the death of a woman's brother. in most cases, women were the objects, rather than the subjects, of media attention. Emphasis on the modern woman became a way to change the image of China from one of savagery to civilization.