Abstract
Throughout history, women have had to struggle to make their voices heard in the public sphere. In many ancient societies, including China, patriarchy was the norm and women were forbidden to be a part of the outside world. Because of the influence of Confucianism and its strict social codes, women’s voices were silenced in history. However, this very social environment gave women a chance to express their feelings, often camouflaged, through poetry. As a result, Chinese literature has become a wonderful storehouse of women’s experiences during the rule of the Ming and Qing dynasties. This essay aims ...