Abstract
This interpretive study examines how the Chinese writing system inscribes and perpetuates gender inequality through characters containing the radical “女” (nǚ, female). Drawing from Shuowen Jiezi, one of the oldest Chinese character dictionaries, this research evaluates 200–300 characters by classifying their grammatical categories—nouns, verbs, and adjectives—and analyzing their semantic connotations as positive, neutral, or negative. Through this comparative lens, the study reveals how language not only reflects, but actively reinforces patriarchal ideology. By tracing the historical origins and evolving meanings of characters such as “婢” (maidservant), “奴” (slave), and “嫉妒” (jealousy), the research situates linguistic forms within broader cultural practices and Confucian gender norms. It also addresses how these biases persist in contemporary usage, shaping the way femininity is perceived in modern Chinese society. Rather than treating language as neutral, this study engages with it as a repository of cultural memory and an active participant in the social construction of gender. It argues that the Chinese script functions as an ideological structure that naturalizes male dominance and limits the expressive possibilities for women. By uncovering how meaning is encoded into writing at both semantic and symbolic levels, the paper contributes to critical cultural studies by demonstrating the epistemological and ethical stakes of language. This research invites a reevaluation of traditional humanistic disciplines, challenging inherited assumptions about language, objectivity, and cultural authority, and calls for a more critical, inclusive approach to the study of meaning in multicultural contexts.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Chinese Language, Linguistic Structure, Cultural Memory, Patriarchal Ideology
