Each of the three presenters was amazing and presented information that every human should be familiar with.
The first speaker, Margaret Kuo, provided a great deal of interesting and intriguing background information about women in china before the 1950's which I had never before heard. She provided key details related to the Republican Period which was bookended by the Manchu Dynasty, regionalism, and war. She discussed feminism and nationalism distinct to that period from differing viewpoints which made me understand the various forms of oppressions and ability to see women in more of a victim role during that period of Chinese history. She went on to discuss the connection and ideals of Confucianism and the family system, as well as women's emancipation. She gave me a much deeper understanding of how the Peace Treaty Negotiations went from German to Japanese hands (versus Chinese which I had always thought). He representation was very eye opening.
The second speaker, Gail Hershatter, presented deep historical information and contextualization and details to things I thought I knew about Chinese history. Her details about women after WWII in relation to Communist Revolutions was very intriguing. I found particular interest when she discussed rural women's roles and laws related to them during this period. Women entering fields of labor and becoming career developed was not a connection I had ever made. The information about cooperatives and dependent labor resources presented a varying degree and interesting background to what I knew about socialist industrialization. her end points about new versus old China and the negativity reflected in most peoples viewpoints of this was very interesting. This terminology was always viewed in my eyes as both time periods being very positive in culture and worldwide viewpoints, but I found this to be very eye opening. Leaving us with the question "Was the revolution good or bad for rural women?" is still something Im pondering over.
The third presenter, Mei Fong, looked very familiar to me at first glance. Once she presented her ideas and lecture about the One Child Policy and presented her book, I knew who she was. I remember reading articles by and about her many years ago in college courses about women throughout history. I remembered learning about the One Child Policy, but never in the way or with the details and background information she presented. Her lecture affected me the most. I left there and am still thinking about it. The idea of forced sterilization and forced abortions by a government for its people is beyond anything I can fully comprehend. I do not believe that the Chinese government meant to cause such turmoil with these related policies, I believe their initial intention was one of population reduction in its simplest form. However, the detrimental and lasting implications that these policies have had on the citizens of China over the last few decades is demoralizing in my eyes. She presented a lot of interesting ideas related to what I already knew and felt as well as the opposing ideals and viewpoints which I found to be understandable and relatable to a point as well. The idea of "family planning" make a great deal of sense. I just wonder what all the true implications are and will be in the future. I look forward to reading the rest of her book and learning more about this very emotional topic.
I left that day with a great deal of knowledge and hope very much to read more from and hear from these presenters about women's history in China.

Professor Hershatter,
I am very grateful that I could participate in this workshop and learn about the stories of those rural women who endured the hardships of the revolution and its aftermath in China. Memories that according to Hersahtter, were collected during her research trips which otherwise would be unknown to the world. It is very inspiring to see how some women were able to survive the misfortune of double marginalization: by the place they lived and by having the bad luck of born females. Learning about the “Great Leap Forward” and the negative effects on the Chinese people was very interesting; as well as the “new “marriage law, which seem to be like a baby step toward empowering women. At least on paper, things have begun to change for women. Though the oppression persist, at least the world will continue to learn about it and hopefully sometime in the near future it will only be history.

Margaret Kuo,
Women in Republican China
The political events that afflicted the Chinese government seem to have a horrible effect on Chinese women more than they had on men. Despite that, China ended its dynastic system; the oppression to women did not. On the contrary, it seems like the violence of the revolution and the Japanese invasion only made matters worse for them. The readings assigned were all very touching. The bound feet practice, though it may seem estrange, it remind me of what the Mayan’s did to their children to make them crossed eyed. It might seem a horrific practice for people outside their culture, even difficult to comprehend it; but a symbol of beauty and indicator that the person belongs to an upper class, for those within the culture.
Midwives: These readings made me realized how blessed are those of us who have the fortune to live in a city and have access to medical care. Having midwifes assisting women giving birth is a common practice in many Latin American countries, even in modern days. Sadly, many women are still dying in rural areas all over the world due to the lack of medical care. Inequalities, and marginalization, of women persist in many parts of the world. It is our duty to create awareness and help to bring equality to the world.

Mei Fong, many years ago, I learned in school about the one child policy in China. Then, I did not comprehend how a government could create a policy like that. I did not know all the details of it until I heard all the background and detailed information about it provided by Ms. Fong. I am horrified to learn the means utilized to force sterilization on women. It certainly it is the most radical mean to reduce population without taking into account the gender and age imbalance that such a measure could create. Now China has to face the consequences of such a devastator experiment.
edited by edelafuente on 5/1/2016