The Predicament Of Disabled Women In The 20th Century Chinese Society In Pearl S. Buck’s The Mother

Abstract

Women in the 20^th century Chinese society were victims of extreme patriarchy and gender inequality. They were always assigned familial roles and were completely prohibited from participating in public affairs. They were literally restrained in their houses and were forced to fulfil domestic duties. Being confined in the inner courts of their houses, women had limited knowledge about the outside world and external affairs, which in turn resulted in them being highly ignorant. Women’s ignorance was cleverly exploited by men to oppress them. They gradually became silent bearers of countless injustices targeted against them. In a society where women were considered as ill omen, disabled women faced double oppression. They were mercilessly cornered by everyone including their family members. They were isolated in the society for being a woman with disabilities. In The Mother Pearl S. Buck portrays the plight of disabled women in the twentieth century Chinese society through the character of a blind girl