A society is a combination of different components that make up the society. Among these components is marriage as well as families. Power is among the pillars of any society and whoever is in power decides how the society will be. This is always a tricky position that requires one who is careful so that the people of such a society are kept at peace and that all the intended functions of the society continue as planned. The issue of gender equality however varies with different societies. There are societies that have women in higher positions while there are others that do not value women at any position in the society. In the ancient times, women were excluded from power in the different societies. In others, the women themselves did not consider themselves worthy of leadership positions. They saw that leadership positions were better when handled by men. This notion greatly affected many people of different areas around the world. In ancient China, the situation was that; women rarely achieved powerful positions in the Chinese society. Instead, they were considered to be companions to the men who were entrusted the powerful positions in the society. There were many instances where gender inequality has been reflected in the book Romance of Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong.
It is basically a truism that gender disparity should be analyzed in the perspective of different dimensions such as class, marriage and power. Power, marriage and class are interrelated aspect of domination that disadvantage women in access to gender equality. Men domination in the society prevents women from having an influence on social relationships. This is due to the fact that men occupy almost all the leadership position in the society and as a result they are involved in the decision-making process. Men are known to take this privilege to oppress women by formulating and implementing oppressive laws and regulations that favors them at the expense of women. From the novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” Luo Guanzhong, the author, illustrate how men use the power given to them by the society for their own benefit. In chapter one (11), when the imperial troops were fighting with the rebels, Haungfu decided to attack the rebels by fire. While making such decision, Huangfu was insensitive to women and children who were in that locality. During war and other national disaster women are the most affected. For instance, when Huangfu set the rebel camp was on fire, men and the youth fled leaving behind women and children to suffer at their own. Despite the fact that women were not involved in the war they were still affected. Women suffrage during wars reflects how men in power make decisions that only suit their wish at the expense of women welfare.
The book Romance of Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong is a book that clearly elaborates how the Chinese culture was in the previous years. This book was written about a story of Ancient China and that the different rules that were present during this time. In the first chapter of this book, there are different roles of the two genders that are analyzed. In this we see a great disparity in how the roles were distributed. The different dynasties that were explained in the first chapter of this book were ruled by men. Men were considered superior in terms of ruling by the Chinese society. The society saw that the men were more capable of handling the powerful positions the society.
They were seen as capable of maintaining the society in a single piece and that this was hard for the rest of the gender of people. There are no instances where women are seen to be fighting for these positions in the first chapter. Instead, the women remain at home and handle the affairs of the family. This is seen when Liu Bei’s mother is said to be watching her son as he plays with the other kids. There were different instances where the power of the rulers was portrayed. It is in this chapter that the first character of the book is introduced. He is Liu Bei. He is a man and is sent for education by her mother. In the first chapter, there is gender inequality in that so little is said of the women. They are perceived to be people who should look out for the families rather offer different help in helping the society. Male domination is highlighted in the novel as we see only men are recruited in the troops. Women are deemed to be a weaker gender that cannot fight during war instead they are relegated to domestic chores and taking care of children. On the other hand, men are recruited in the army where they are given various ranks that enables them to rise to power and become kings. The only way women can raise to power is by marring the kings to become queens. Therefore, discriminating women from joining the troops, disadvantages them as it prevent them from ascending to power where they will be able to have a greater influence to the society. Kings and troops commanders had the privilege to make decision that may or may not represent the will and wish of the society; and in most cases they made decisions that favor them without considering the welfare of marginalized groups where women falls.
Most women were marriage to strangers against their wish. Men had the privilege to select women of their choice which is exactly the opposite of what women undergo. Courageous soldiers were rewarded with the most beautiful ladies in the society. Marriage was not granted the respect it deserves; it should be a union between two individuals who complement each other rather than a forced affair. Planned marriage has many consequences such as gender based violence and lack of understanding that leads to a lot of suffering. Women suffer most in planned marriage because the Chinese society according to the author view divorced women as outcast. Men also had the privilege marry many wives since polygamy is accepted in most society where else women are restricted to one man. Cases of polyandry are very rare in Chinese society. Application of double standards in marriage and society such as polygamy affects women the most as compared to men. The novel highlights the aspect of class by analyzing how female subordination and male privilege are the order of the day in Chinese society. The author shatters how stereotypes of repression, oppression and persecution affect women’s welfare, all kind gender disparities are displayed in the novel. From the novel, it is imperative to note that men are provided with various opportunities such as leadership and education opportunities. In page 11, Ts’ao greatly rejoiced upon graduating; this is a clear reflection that male children were offered education opportunity to further their careers, “Ts’ao greatly rejoiced to hear this. He graduated at twenty and began his career in a district near” (11). From the above context we get to know that the boy child was privileged to further their career while the girl child was discriminated by been subjected to house chores. The resistant to change is highlighted by the aspects of gender inequality in the field of education and career. Education is a tool that empowers the society. Therefore, failure to educate the girl child indicates how the Chinese society is reluctant to empower women. As a result women will continue to depend on men provision for their daily needs. Dependency on men adds insult to injury since men take that opportunity to oppress women.
The only way gender inequality can be solved is through empowering women especially by educating them. However, this cannot be achieved without solving the problem of gender stereotyping. Gender biasness can be eradicated once both men and women are educated and a complete overhaul is done to check institutionalized rules, social and political rights as well as cultural norms that prevent disappearance of male domination.
The rulers of the land changed and there came Dong Zhuo. He is a ruler who uses force and brutality to control the people. In his ruling, women play a rather small role. In terms of class, the women were mostly portrayed to be in the same level as the servants. They were to be at the mercy of the men and that they were always second to the men. They are seen to be people who are meant to wait for orders and directions of what to do from the men. This is perfectly represented by Diao Chan who is a maid to the rulers. She is terrified when her master saves her and she says that she has no possible way to repay her master. She places herself in a very lowly position and that the things that she says reveal how she has a low opinion of herself. The women were supposed to be in equal terms with the men in the region. However, this is not achieved and they are seen to be lowly on most of the occasions. Chan is advised by Wang Yun of the different things she could do with her dancing charm as well as her beauty. She was used to create a rift between the ruler who was Dong Zhuo and his son Lu Bu. This was necessary for all those who needed the ruling of such brutality terminated. The role of women here is elevated to a person who can negotiate with the ruler as well as offer suggestions. She is able to affect the ruling of the power through the use of her beauty since Zhuo becomes greatly fond of her and then decided to be staying close to her rather than watch over the rest of the people under the empire.
Women are presented as people who want to buy in their way into power and class rather than earn the power and class. Diao is portrayed as one who uses her beauty rather than power and strategies to gain power. Wang Yun was the mastermind of the treacherous plan of using Diao Chan to create rifts between Zhuo and his son Lu Bu. This was to be used later as Lu Bu kills his father for Wang so that he may retain Diao. The women are seen as the main people who are supposed to control the affairs of the family. In terms of marriage however, the men and women are offered equal chances in handling the matters of the family. There is little inequality in that the men are considered superior in being mentioned and that the women receive little recognition in such instances.
In conclusion, the roles of women and men in the book Romance of Three Kingdoms have differed greatly. The men are portrayed as people who are superior to the women in most of the instances that the two members of the different gender groups are analyzed and compared. There are little instances where the women are portrayed to be superior to the men in the book. This was a normal happening in Ancient China and that the author has no trouble writing the book. In terms of power and class, the men are the dominant group in most places. However, there are instances where the men need the help of women in achieving total control as was seen in the case of Wang Yun needing the help of Chan in eliminating Dong Zhuo. In marriage however, there is little inequality and that in most cases the men and women participate in equal chances in decisions in marriage. The men are dominant in the recognition of powerful families and that the women get little recognition. In general, there is great inequality between the roles of men and the roles of women in the Ancient Chinese society as represented by Luo Guanzhong. This disparity is seen in all sectors of the society and is dominant in different places of the Ancient China.
Work Cited
Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Translated by CH Brewitt-Taylor, Taipei: Ch'emg-wen publishing company, Chapters 1-4, 8-9 and 120, pages: 1-42, 72-91 and 610-623, 1969 http://books.google.ca/books?id=-NzNT3TpKz4C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
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