A century ago, Chinese feminists fighting for the emancipation of women helped spark the Republican Revolution, which overthrew the Qing empire. After China's Communist revolution of 1949, Chairman Mao famously proclaimed that "women hold up half the sky." In the early years of the People's Republic, the Communist Party sought to transform gender relations with expansive initiatives such as assigning urban women jobs in the planned economy. Yet those gains are now being eroded in China's post-socialist era. Contrary to many claims made in the mainstream media, women in China have experienced a dramatic rollback of many rights and gains relative to men.
Leftover Women debunks the popular myth that women have fared well as a result of post-socialist China's economic reforms and breakneck growth. Laying out the structural discrimination against women in China will speak to broader problems with China's economy, politics, and development.
About the Author
Leta Hong Fincher recently completed her PhD in Sociology at Tsinghua University. She has a Master’s degree in East Asian Studies from Stanford University and a Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University. Her research on “leftover” women and the property market in China has been cited by many news organizations, including The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and National Public Radio. She is an award-winning former journalist with extensive experience in China and the United States.
The book is widely available from the publisher and online retailers.
This video is also available on the USCI YouTube Channel.
