Throughout the hundred years of development of the Republic of China (ROC), a woman’s place in the society and historically has been constantly changing, striving for freedom, equality, and recognition. In this article, Yu discusses the rise of a woman’s place in the society through aspects of education, rights, work, and social movements.

Education is one of the most important factors that contributed to female uprising. Before the Republic of China, girls’ schools educate women to become a good wife and loving mother. Under the influence of western missionaries, further stimulated by the incident of Madame Huixing’s suicide in plea for fair education opportunities for women in 1904, female education gradually moved towards a humanistic approach to focus on “The Whole Person.” School life also had an influence on young women. While living in groups, young girls learned about discipline, teamwork, and autonomy. Soon school activities expanded into student movements where women stepped out to fight for their own rights. The popularization of education allowed these educated women to participate in military, political, revolution, and media activities after graduation. New laws were thus introduced to protect women’s political and social rights.

An important aspect of school education is the introduction of physical education into the curriculum. In a famous novel Flowers in the Mirror (鏡花緣), a vivid image of a man being forced into painful foot binding awakened the society to the cruelty and unfairness of the practice. As the society slowly accepted the demise of foot binding, schools, social organizations, and the government also lead acts and set up laws to ban the practice. Free from the torment, women started to participate in athletic competitions. From local tournaments, to national competitions and the Olympic Games, they challenged the traditional perspective towards women in the patriarchal society. With this change aroused more concern towards the well-being of women, both physically and mentally. Newly established medical systems and institutes provide medical care tailored to a woman’s needs. Mentally, these changes have led women out into the society, but also brought out various social problems such as harassment and violence in school, work, or even at home. To address this issue, social welfare groups for women have stood out to fight for their rights. In response, laws were established to protect female autonomy and prevent furture sexual crimes.

As women began to step out of the house to explore their potential, various work opportunities became available, not only in textile manufacturing, but also as lawyers, doctors, or bankers. The society has gradually accepted and even encouraged women to become economically independent from and equally educated as men. Yet women continue to face the dilemma between family and work. Constant voices urge women to return to their “rightful place” in the house. Thanks to the rise of female consciousness, and the increasing importance of female productivity, women’s rights to work as well as to share the housing burden with her husband became more widely accepted. To further protect this right, laws were created to prevent discrimination against female work conditions and enforcing paid maternity leave.

Social developments concerning women owe much to feminist movements. Through contact with western culture, media circulation and public dialogue, feminism thoughts and feminist movements have brought about widespread discussion and reflection on the status-quo. One contributing factor is the government mobilizing women under war or necessary times, for social services, wartime backup, or production activities. The experience of participating in mobilizations motivated these women to lead women’s and feminist organizations after wartimes. Through participation in organizations, women began to hold public activities such as lectures, donations, publications, and governmental requests. Social activities evolved into social movements to request for law changes and welfare within the society.

Educational reforms, recognition of female rights, increase of women workers, and rise of social organizations and movements—in these past hundred years women have strived step by step for their voices to be heard in this society. In this article, Yu gives voice to past labors and struggles of many others who fought for the rights and welfare of women through revolution, Japanese colonization, wartime, and social reform. The changes in women in the Republic of China have been significant, and will continue to strive for the better through future efforts of individuals and the society alike.