Christian Women and the Development of Nascent Feminist Consciousness in Nineteenth-Century China
In 2010, Padma Anagol argued that the first modern feminists in India were Christian women, women such as Laxmibai Tilak and Pandita Ramabai. Using Anagol’s definition of feminism as “a theory and practice which presented a challenge to the subordination of women in society and attempted to redress...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/3/387 |
| _version_ | 1797609225412673536 |
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| author | Anneke H. Stasson |
| author_facet | Anneke H. Stasson |
| author_sort | Anneke H. Stasson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2010, Padma Anagol argued that the first modern feminists in India were Christian women, women such as Laxmibai Tilak and Pandita Ramabai. Using Anagol’s definition of feminism as “a theory and practice which presented a challenge to the subordination of women in society and attempted to redress the balance of power between the sexes,” this article shows how feminist consciousness was cultivated in Christian schools, churches, hospitals, and organizations in late-nineteenth-century China. Kwok Pui Lan pointed out in 1992 that Christians were the first women in China to band together to fight women’s oppression; however, like so many of the claims made about women in global Christianity, this one has not yet been fully appreciated by historians and missiologists. I show how mission schools gave girls access to new models of personhood and womanhood. Likewise, Christian scriptures, churches, and voluntary societies such as the WCTU and YWCA provided space to reflect on gender identity and activism. Through all these avenues, a modest version of Christian feminism was cultivated in China decades before the secular women’s movement began in 1900. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:58:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b41a15d9e8874b6aa56c7330c3d21a10 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:58:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-b41a15d9e8874b6aa56c7330c3d21a102023-11-17T13:36:57ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-03-0114338710.3390/rel14030387Christian Women and the Development of Nascent Feminist Consciousness in Nineteenth-Century ChinaAnneke H. Stasson0John Wesley Honors College, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN 46953, USAIn 2010, Padma Anagol argued that the first modern feminists in India were Christian women, women such as Laxmibai Tilak and Pandita Ramabai. Using Anagol’s definition of feminism as “a theory and practice which presented a challenge to the subordination of women in society and attempted to redress the balance of power between the sexes,” this article shows how feminist consciousness was cultivated in Christian schools, churches, hospitals, and organizations in late-nineteenth-century China. Kwok Pui Lan pointed out in 1992 that Christians were the first women in China to band together to fight women’s oppression; however, like so many of the claims made about women in global Christianity, this one has not yet been fully appreciated by historians and missiologists. I show how mission schools gave girls access to new models of personhood and womanhood. Likewise, Christian scriptures, churches, and voluntary societies such as the WCTU and YWCA provided space to reflect on gender identity and activism. Through all these avenues, a modest version of Christian feminism was cultivated in China decades before the secular women’s movement began in 1900.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/3/387ChinafeminismChristianitywomeneducation |
| spellingShingle | Anneke H. Stasson Christian Women and the Development of Nascent Feminist Consciousness in Nineteenth-Century China Religions China feminism Christianity women education |
| title | Christian Women and the Development of Nascent Feminist Consciousness in Nineteenth-Century China |
| title_full | Christian Women and the Development of Nascent Feminist Consciousness in Nineteenth-Century China |
| title_fullStr | Christian Women and the Development of Nascent Feminist Consciousness in Nineteenth-Century China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Christian Women and the Development of Nascent Feminist Consciousness in Nineteenth-Century China |
| title_short | Christian Women and the Development of Nascent Feminist Consciousness in Nineteenth-Century China |
| title_sort | christian women and the development of nascent feminist consciousness in nineteenth century china |
| topic | China feminism Christianity women education |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/3/387 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annekehstasson christianwomenandthedevelopmentofnascentfeministconsciousnessinnineteenthcenturychina |