Early writings contributing to social change & shaping works in the 21st century.

• Main Author: Lee, Denise Jia Ying.
• Other Authors: School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women; DRNTU::Humanities::Literature
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/45911
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Early women’s writings in the 20th century focused predominantly on issues that reflect the situations and social problems of women in China. They were influential and arguably contributed to social reforms and changes in China. Present films produced by women, is one of the many avenues that express the improvement of the female condition. Modern day women filmmakers are able to envision change for women through their films, which was otherwise impossible in earlier writings by women. The paper will aim to discuss the themes addressed in early women’s writings from 1920s-1930s and show how these writings inevitably contributed to social change in China. It will then address the change revealed in modern day films produced by women. The texts are a reflection of concerns in the world as Edward Said argues that, “these matters have to do with a text’s being in the world.” (Said 35) Therefore, the 21st century saw more active participation of women in the workplace, politics as well as in the cultural scene. Slowly breaking away from patriarchal traditions, women are more educated and politically savvy, playing a more active role in society. Hence, this paper is not just a historical account of works produced by women through the years, it will attempt to propose how present day films are a response to earlier works and social change in China.