24th Annual Student Research Conference
Reducing Homosexuality to a Stereotype in Xinran's The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices
Michelle E. Noriega
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Xinran's The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices exposes the traditionally biased view against women in Communist China. Although Xinran gives a voice to the women of China who have endured hardship in silence, she quickly glosses over the topic of homosexuality. This paper will explore the differences between Xinran's attitudes toward homosexuality, as revealed in "The Woman Who Loved Other Women", which highlights her own victimization by a homosexual, and toward the discrimination of women in the other stories she recounts. Unlike the sympathy shown for other women, it seems as though Xinran would rather not be involved with the story of Taohong, the lesbian. Instead of exploring issues surrounding the view and treatment of homosexuality in Communist China, she stereotypes the image. This paper will challenge Xinran's presentation of homosexuality as the product of employing improper gender roles, traumatic sexual experience, and burning hatred for the opposite sex.
Keywords: Xinran, China, women, The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices, homosexuality, gender, stereotypes, queer studies
Topic(s):English
Asian Studies
Women's and Gender Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 14-5
Location: VH 1236
Time: 10:30