The Influence of Confucianism on the Role of Women in the New Era

Abstract

Confucian emphasis on gender roles has led to the formation of gender stereotypes and deepened the solidification of people's cognition of gender roles. In ancient China, all the daily life of women was almost confined to the family, and they hardly had any social life. Caring for their husband and teaching their children is an inevitable and fixed track in their lives. The concept of gender roles in Confucian thought still affects the division of labor of modern women and modern families. This influence is hidden and profound, because Confucianism has always occupied a pivotal position in Chinese civilization. This paper aims to explore whether Confucianism has continued to influence people’s gender concepts and social division of labor since traditional Chinese culture was once again promoted, and what kind of influence women have been subjected to in this context. The paper argues that Confucianism, as an important part of Chinese traditional culture, needs to adapt to the current feminist trend and make corresponding changes.