Women, Sport and Society in Modern China: Holding up More than Half the Sky

by Jinxia,Dong

• ISBN13: 9780714652351
• ISBN10: 0714652350
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-10-30
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

"Women hold up half the sky" and "Women can do what men can do" are not just popular slogans peddled by Chairman Mao, but recent actualities of China's elite sport. In every Olympics since 1988 women have increased their representation over men. Their extraordinary performances have thrust Chinese women into the global limelight and sparked considerable interest, not to mention controversy, with accusations of drug violations, and yet there remains a paucity of analytical literature on Chinese elite women's sport not only in China but throughout the world. Drawing on Chinese sources hitherto unavailable in the West, official documents and interviews with top athletes, Dong Jinxia explores the rise of the Chinese super-sportswomen and their relationship with politics, culture and society before and during the Cultural Revolution and through China's transition to a market economy. This readable work will appeal to students of sports studies, journalists and general readers fascinated by the rise of theChinese women super-athletes.

Author Biography

A former gymnast, Dong Jinxia is a professor at Peking University, and has been involved in many international and national sports events as organizer, judge or researcher

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xi
List of Abbreviations	p. xiii
Foreword	p. xv
Series Editor's Foreword	p. xvii
Prologue	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Crucial Concepts	p. 3
Methodology	p. 5
Literature Review of Women, Gender and Sport	p. 7
Overview: Elite Women's Sport in the New China	p. 11
Historical background	p. 11
Contemporary situation	p. 14
Chapter Outlines	p. 19
Women, Society and Elite Sport in the Early Years of the New China	p. 22
Analysis: Overview	p. 23
Communist Sports Administration	p. 23
Specialisation of Sport and Women's Emancipation	p. 24
International Recognition and Soviet Influences	p. 31
Analysis: Illustrative Case Studies	p. 37
Beijing	p. 37
Guangdong	p. 40
Sichuan	p. 43
Conclusion	p. 46
Women, Society and Elite Sport in the New China between 1957 and 1965	p. 47
Analysis: Overview	p. 48
Political Goals and Elite Women's Sport	p. 48
Gender Culture and Training Loads	p. 53
The GLF, International Conflicts and the National Games	p. 55
Post-GLF Adjustment and Reform	p. 60
Analysis: Illustrative Case Studies	p. 63
Beijing	p. 63
Guangdong	p. 67
Sichuan	p. 69
Conclusion	p. 72
Women, Society and Elite Sport during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76)	p. 73
Analysis: Overview	p. 74
The Red Guard Movement, Women and Sport	p. 74
Women's Liberation, Model Operas and Sportswomen	p. 79
The Rustication Campaign, Education and Sports Teams	p. 82
Revival of Elite Sport and a 'Sports Revolution'	p. 86
Analysis: Illustrative Case Studies	p. 91
Beijing	p. 91
Guangdong	p. 93
Sichuan	p. 94
Conclusion	p. 95
Women, Society and Elite Sport in the First Decade of Economic Reform (1979-89)	p. 97
Analysis: Overview	p. 98
Reform, Pluralism and Elite Sport	p. 98
'Opening Up', Nationalism and Olympic Strategy	p. 102
Sport, Success, Status and Challenge	p. 107
Higher Education, Occupational Choices and Elite Sport	p. 109
Analysis: Illustrative Case Studies	p. 113
Beijing	p. 113
Guangdong	p. 116
Sichuan	p. 118
Conclusion	p. 120
Women, Society and Elite Sport in the Transition to a Market Economy (1990-98)	p. 121
Analysis: Overview	p. 121
Integration of the Olympic and National Games	p. 121
Market Economy and Institutional Reform	p. 124
Relationships between Elite and Mass Sport and between Coach and Athlete	p. 127
Sportswomen and Women's Elite Sport in the 1990s	p. 130
Analysis: Illustrative Case Studies	p. 133
Beijing	p. 133
Guangdong	p. 135
Sichuan	p. 137
Conclusion	p. 140
Olympic Success, Drug Violations and Elite Women's Sport in the New China	p. 141
Drug Culture versus Anti-Drug Campaigns	p. 142
Behind the Drugs	p. 146
Decentralisation and Drug Offences	p. 150
Drugs, Disgrace and Women's Sport in China	p. 154
Conclusion	p. 157
New Women for a New Age: Conquest and Confrontation--Successful Sportswomen	p. 159
The Chinese Women's Volleyball Team: Sacrifices and Rewards	p. 160
The Ma Family Army: Coach, Athletes and Confrontation	p. 164
Speed Skater Ye Qaobo: Clash of Gender Ideals	p. 171
Steps to Success	p. 174
Conclusion	p. 177
Mobility, Stratification and Sportswomen in the New China	p. 179
Social Mobility	p. 179
Occupational Prestige, Social Mobility and Sportswomen	p. 180
Family Background, Social Mobility and Involvement in Sport	p. 182
Geographical and Social Mobility of Sportswomen	p. 186
Stratification, Post-Athletic Careers and Educational Opportunities	p. 192
Conclusion	p. 196
Gender Relations and Sport in the New China: Continuity, Change and Gender Culture	p. 198
Partnership in the Sports Community	p. 199
Reform: Male Coach and Female Athlete	p. 202
Family, Marriage and Careers in Sport	p. 206
Opportunities and Challenges	p. 211
Conclusion	p. 215
Epilogue: Elite Women's Sport in China: Bridging the Past and the Future	p. 216
Past Action	p. 216
Future Prospects	p. 224
Notes	p. 229
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.