Difference between revisions of "328 2010--Week 3 Questions/Comments"
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I can't speak to Chinese attitudes towards prostitution in the second half of the nineteenth century, but we talked about prostitution and courtesans in my Gender in Chinese History class during the eighteenth century, and they had a different view of it than we do. Certainly, they felt that it was best to be a respectable wife and mother, but courtesans and prostitutes weren't merely sex objects, most were educated and trained in the fine arts. Sometimes they didn't even sleep with their clients, but would just sit down and write poetry or play music with them. Many of these women were famous for their beauty and learning, even their morality. Of course, I'm not by any means trying to glorify prostitution, but still, these immigrant Chinese women may have come to the United States with a different idea of what being a prostitute meant, and that's why they agreed to it, combined with the practical concern of getting themselves to America. - Alice W | I can't speak to Chinese attitudes towards prostitution in the second half of the nineteenth century, but we talked about prostitution and courtesans in my Gender in Chinese History class during the eighteenth century, and they had a different view of it than we do. Certainly, they felt that it was best to be a respectable wife and mother, but courtesans and prostitutes weren't merely sex objects, most were educated and trained in the fine arts. Sometimes they didn't even sleep with their clients, but would just sit down and write poetry or play music with them. Many of these women were famous for their beauty and learning, even their morality. Of course, I'm not by any means trying to glorify prostitution, but still, these immigrant Chinese women may have come to the United States with a different idea of what being a prostitute meant, and that's why they agreed to it, combined with the practical concern of getting themselves to America. - Alice W | ||
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| + | I agree with many of the comments above regarding money and how at the time it was quite a large amount to spend but I found interesting how the numbers were so precise, ie. with Loi Yau her amount was $503 for four and half years(p. 238). How did the mistresses come up with the numbers, was $503 the exact amount for travel, lodging, etc.? I also question if the women really understood everything they were in for, like kokeefe mentioned America was the land for opportunity-it may have been a better life here than in China. The women were able to live in America without debt and be free to do as they pleased once their servitude was complete. I do not think prostitution is the way to go or an ideal life choice, but for the women maybe it was a means of escape. -Megan W. | ||
== Zitkala-Sa Travels to the Land of the Big Red Apples, 1884 == | == Zitkala-Sa Travels to the Land of the Big Red Apples, 1884 == | ||
