The Study of the Young Women's Christian Association in China from the Gender Perspective (1890--1937).

摘要

The Young Women's Christian Association originated in England and the United States in the latter half of the nineteenth century was introduced into China in 1890. Via its various works, the YWCA took root in Chinese women of different ages, different nationalities, and different religious beliefs. Equipped with the advanced achievements of western women's movement, the YWCA also focused on the Chinese women's real needs and interests. Through its professional services, the organization helped Chinese women improve their survival capabilities and life skills, inspire them to shape the national consciousness and lead the public life. It provided Chinese women with the means to work out real conception of womanhood, which was of great significance to Chinese women's emancipation and the raise of social status.;However, from a political view, the YWCA is underestimated because it failed to lead the Chinese women to the final liberation through a revolutionary way. This dissertation attempts to represent the YWCA history in Modern Chinese from a gender perspective and emphasize its meaning to Chinese women's development which is beyond the body liberation. In addition, it is hoped to present a case study that reveals the evaluation bias that women movement and women organizations have to face up today. Recognizing the obstruction and the shackles of male hierarchy should benefit the independent construction of women's development model.