Chapter 269 Thoughts
Teacher Wang adjusted his thick glasses and slowly began to speak:
He wrote several characters for the "woman" radical on the blackboard.
“Look, everyone, the character ‘妇’ (woman) is composed of ‘女’ (woman) holding a broom, meaning to sweep and clean; ‘奴’ (slave) is composed of ‘女’ (woman) and ‘又’ (hand), indicating a woman being employed; ‘妥’ (comfortable) is composed of ‘爪’ (claw) and ‘女’ (woman), meaning to stroke a woman with one's hand to make her compliant; ‘安’ (peaceful) is composed of ‘宀’ (roof) and ‘女’ (woman), meaning that when a woman is inside the house, the household is peaceful.”
He paused for a moment, then added, “Looking at the characters for ‘jealousy,’ ‘envy,’ ‘greed,’ and ‘treachery,’ the ‘woman’ radical is often involved in their formation.”
The audience gradually quieted down. The female students, including Nan Zhiyi, Yang Mei, and Shan Xiaoyan, all sat up straight, their expressions focused.
Teacher Wang's voice echoed in the classroom, "Look, everyone, just under the 'female' section, there are so many words that carry connotations of dependence, obedience, and even negative meanings."
This is not accidental, but rather the result of the long process of social development in which social power structures and cultural concepts have continuously defined, regulated, and even subtly disciplined women's roles and values through the most basic written language.
Ban Zhao emphasized "humility and weakness first" in "Admonitions for Women" and advocated "chastity, tranquility, and a sense of shame in one's conduct," which is a concentrated manifestation of this kind of discipline in a specific historical period.
It tells women what kind of person they should be and how they should behave, internalizing external societal expectations into many women's own moral principles and behavioral norms..."
Teacher Wang's explanation stirred up ripples in the hearts of many female students.
They listened intently, their eyes sparkling with thought, emotion, and even... a ignited light.
Teacher Wang spoke with fervor: "Students, especially the girls! We study ancient culture and understand the origins of writing not to be bound by these ancient frameworks! On the contrary, knowing the reasons behind them is precisely for the purpose of examining, criticizing, and breaking free from them! As independent individuals, what kind of people do we want to become? Who should define our value?"
His gaze turned solemnly to the female students: "Times are changing, and ideas are progressing. You are university students of the new era, the pillars of the nation's future. Do not let these old ideas, accumulated over thousands of years in written texts, limit your talents and ambitions."
Whether it's scholarship, scientific research, politics, business, or any field that interests you, you should bravely pursue your dreams and realize your self-worth. Have new ideas and the courage to break down barriers!
The female students spontaneously burst into applause; their overwhelming excitement could only be expressed through applause, conveying their gratitude and appreciation for Teacher Wang…
Because this lesson was no longer just about imparting knowledge, but also about enlightening minds.
Nan Zhiyi clapped her hands vigorously, her heart filled with emotion. What Teacher Wang said was similar to what her mother had said...
Shan Xiaoyan was so excited she almost slammed her hand on the table, but she could only lower her voice and say, "Teacher Wang is absolutely right!!"
Yang Mei's eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, as if she had become even more certain of her future path in life.
As the course drew to a close, Teacher Wang closed his lesson plan, his smiling face returning to normal, as if his resounding discourse was merely a routine explanation.
"Alright, that concludes today's lesson. I'll assign a small homework assignment at the end."
He pointed to the blackboard and said, “Each student, please choose a character with the radical ‘女’ (woman), and, in conjunction with the explanation in the Shuowen Jiezi (a dictionary of Chinese characters), and by consulting relevant classical texts, deeply analyze the structure and original meaning of this character, as well as the ancient society’s perception, expectations, or discipline of women, and write a short essay of about 1,500 words.”
He put down the chalk, dusted off his hands, and smiled, "This assignment is quite simple, isn't it? It's just to have everyone take their thinking from today a step further..."
As soon as he finished speaking, several meaningless, strange cries came from the back of the classroom.
Teacher Wang suppressed her smile, adjusted her glasses, and looked sharply toward the source of the sound.
The classroom fell silent instantly.
"What? Are you finding it difficult? Or do you think this topic is irrelevant to you?"
"Dear male students, I hope you can clearly realize that from the moment you were born into this world, whether in ancient society or in the present, you have been enjoying more social resources and expectations than women, or rather, a kind of 'privilege'."
He quoted extensively from classical texts, speaking in a serious tone: "The Book of Changes (Zhouyi) states: 'Heaven is high and earth is low; thus, Qian and Kun are established. High and low are arranged, thus, noble and base are positioned.' This order of Qian and Kun, high and low, when projected onto human relations, manifests as the gender division of labor: 'Men are in charge of external affairs, women are in charge of internal affairs.' The Book of Rites (Liji) further specifies in detail the upbringing norms for women: 'For ten years, women should not leave their homes, and their mothers should teach them to be gentle and obedient.' These classic ancient texts constructed and maintained a social structure that favored male dominance."
He looked at the male students who were gradually lowering their heads and continued, "This social structure means that you often have a more relaxed environment and more opportunities than women in all aspects of education, job hunting, inheriting family businesses, and participating in public affairs."
You may take it for granted, or even be completely unaware of it, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Today, I'm having you analyze a character with the radical for "woman" (女) so that you can try to understand the cultural weight that the other gender has borne throughout history, and cultivate your empathy and critical thinking. This is crucial for you to become truly responsible and insightful individuals.
Teacher Wang's gaze swept across the room, finally settling on the few male students who had initially made strange noises. "Since some male students think this assignment is too 'easy,' in order to help you better 'understand' and 'experience' it, the word count requirement for all male students' papers has been increased to three thousand words. I hope that through more in-depth research and reflection, you can submit a paper that lives up to what you have learned and also lives up to the higher expectations this era has for you."
Teacher Wang's words were well-organized and supported by solid evidence. They not only pointed out historical facts but also connected them to contemporary reflections, leaving the male students, who were initially somewhat unconvinced, speechless and even lowering their heads in shame, forced to admit their mistake.
The female students looked at Teacher Wang with even more admiration.
Teacher Wang announced the end of get out of class and then slowly left the classroom. His thin figure appeared exceptionally tall in the eyes of Nan Zhiyi and the other female students.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com