Why Should Women Not Be Called"Xiansheng"?Historical Changes in the Use of"Xiansheng"from the Perspective of Gender
In pre-modern China,there was already a hidden contradiction in the usages of"xiansheng"in the genealogy of the concept that was either"available for both men and women"or"only available for men".Women were widely referred to as"xiangsheng"in ancient China.In modern China,on the one hand,the translation and dissemination of mister have brought new connotations to the con-cept of"xiansheng",and gender factors have infiltrated the traditional use of the concept of"xiansheng".On the other hand,the Nation-alist government,in pursuit of gender and political equality,endowed the concept of"xiansheng"with political status as a"common ti-tle"to be officially used"for both men and women".As a result,there is a competition between the two usages of the concept of"xian-sheng".After the establishment of the People's Republic of China,the use of"xiansheng"was significantly reduced.In the period of e-conomic reform and opening-up,the use of"xiansheng,"again translated from the western language system,once more swept across the country under the western influence.It not only entered the mainstream of society and acquired consensus but also sidelined the tradition-al use of"xiansheng""available for both men and women".The social controversy over whether women are suitable for the title of"xiansheng"essentially lies in the western title system that is gendered and is forcefully imposed on Chinese traditions.The new mean-ing can certainly revitalize the old concept.It,however,can also undermine the internal integrity of the traditional usage,resulting in a fierce internal conflict between the new and old meanings.
xianshengconceptual historygenderdiscourse hegemonytitle system
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