22 November 2015
ASA 002 A03
Blog 10
Lee explores and discusses the cultural background and history of Confucian teachings that have influenced sexuality becoming a taboo subject among asian americans. It was horrifying to read that some young brides—those that fail to maintain family honor by remaining virgins until marriage—are publicly humiliated or even killed by families. It’s bizarre to me that chastity is valued more than life, and it makes me wonder if this practice contradicts with any other confucian teachings. I cannot comprehend why brides are expected to be virgins - and are subject to ridicule and death if they are not, but men aren’t expected to be virgin grooms and aren’t held to the same standards. I find these double standards outrageous, and it was upsetting to read about the principles of the “women’s three virtues of obedience” and the “seven eligible grounds for divorce” that further expand these double standards. Lee also brings up that she was shocked that among those young women seeking hymen reconstruction surgery, are great numbers of Korean and Chinese American women who grew up in the United States or Canada. Lee brings up an confucian value called 'namjonyeobi': which she says means “Men should be respected; women should be lowered”. Lee says that both China and Korea are heavily influenced by patrilineal and patriarchal Confucian values. I know that after the cultural revolution in China, there was an attack on Confucianism and women’s statuses rose and China began to embrace gender equality. I’m aware that China still has a long way to go for true equality, but did the rise of the status of women in society after the cultural revolution have any effect on the social view of sexuality in China?
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