Research On The Status Changes Of Muslim Women's Families In The Rural Areas Of Northwest China

In Chinese history,female Muslims in northwestern rural areas,under the long-lasting influence of Islamic doctrines and traditional Chinese patriarchal thoughts,tend to have lower status in family and society,as a great deal of research suggests.After the foundation of People's Republic of China,a series of policies and measures adopted by the authorities to promote gender equality did not bring about obvious and radical change in this region.Since the adoption of the opening and reform policy,the massive migration movements of Muslims in Chinese northwestern rural areas give rise to the tendency of non-agriculturization in the means of livelihood in this region with a great many female Muslims involved in this process.In this dissertation,the author attempts to analyze the changes that took place in females' family positions,as well as their distinguishing features and reasons,by characterizing the changes of female family positions in two villages in XunhaaSalarAntunomous County.With reference to the new findings in females family positions and the measurement of power,the author makes an analysis of the females' family status and the changes of that in the non-angriculturizational background,taking the degree of satisfaction and initiative as the index of measurement.This dissertation is divided into five parts.In this first part,the author demonstrates the purpose and significance of this dissertation,and meanwhile reviews the relevant studies and findings,provides the reason for selecting the location of the study and outlines the methodology employed in the dissertation.Basic information of the survey place,especially the information related to the development of non-agriculturization in this area is introduced in this part,which may facilitate the understanding and analysis of females living environment and social status in the non-angriculturizational background.In the second part,the author aims to outline females' statues in Chinese traditional families.Through the analysis made in the aspects of women's marriage condition,family finance,reproductive history,household lives,migrant working experiences and involvement in social lives,it is found that local women scarcely takes initiative in family life,which makes it difficult to measure their degrees of satisfaction.In the third part,the difference between the family position of female Muslims in the process of non-agriculturization and that of traditional females is illustrated.The differences consist in urban-rural gap,disparity in education experience,influences from migrant working experience and family financial conditions.Though with subtle improvement,the family status of female Muslims is not thoroughly transformed.In the fourth part,the author analyzes the reason for the lack of thorough changes in female Muslims' family status,which involves low levels of education,lack of financial independence and shackles of patriarchal traditions.In the last part,the author sums up and reflects on the findings of this survey:women have relatively low social positions in their local areas,with various restraints forced upon them which robs them the ability to dominate their lives and to reflect on their social positions.There is still a long way to go before their remarkable improvements are made in their living conditions.In conclusion,the author shows in this dissertation that with little initiative in family activities and active reflection on their conditions,traditional females tend to be more submissive to customs and traditions and thus have relatively low status in society overall.During the non-agriculturization of the local society,females' status has not been apparently transformed,though with slight improvements.A lot is to be done to elevate females' status in family,including improving levels of education,enhancing their financial independence,and the most important combating patriarchal traditions,providing possibilities for the raise of women's status;otherwise women's rights and interests will never be upheld with men being forever in the possession of social resources and established interests.