Between Family and Gender:Young Rural Women's Practices of "Doing Daughters"
West and Zimmerman's"doing gender"theory emphasizes that gender is achieved interactive-ly in specific contexts,expanding beyond traditional gender theories that view gender practices merely as role or institutional outcomes.Existing research has predominantly focused on the gender practices of wives or mothers,neglecting young women in their natal families.Women acting as wives or mothers are usually more proactive,occupying equal or advantageous positions.In traditional culture,daughters are positioned in a subordinate role in both gender and generational dimensions,and it is challenging for them to disengage,making the gender practices of"doing daughters"a vivid demonstration of the interactive influence and co-construction of different gender perspectives.Using the case of an extramarital affair in-volving Wang Fang's elder brother,this study indicates that the gender practices of young women transitio-ning from rural to urban areas manifest complexity amid the interplay of traditional and modern forces.While education and economic empowerment can empower young women,they do not necessarily lead to fundamental changes in women's views and status.The adoption of a rational daughter preference and fem-inist theories as cultural alternatives may significantly impact the practice of"doing daughters".Never-theless,under emotional pressure,adopting a family-oriented gender perspective to maintain family har-mony remains the primary principle for rural young women who are"doing daughters".The pursuit of gender equality remains a long and arduous journey.
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