There are quite a few “sexist themes” (and examples) in this novel all having to do with the character of Mistress Ning: arranged marriage, foot binding, poverty (due to a drug addicted husband), and even the selling of young, female children into slavery.
Sexism, of course, is when one gender (usually the male gender) is considered naturally superior to the other and dominates as a result. This certainly happens within the life of Mistress Ning. ...
There are quite a few “sexist themes” (and examples) in this novel all having to do with the character of Mistress Ning: arranged marriage, foot binding, poverty (due to a drug addicted husband), and even the selling of young, female children into slavery.
Sexism, of course, is when one gender (usually the male gender) is considered naturally superior to the other and dominates as a result. This certainly happens within the life of Mistress Ning. Being born into a wealthy family, Mistress Ning’s feelings are not considered at all in regards to marriage. In order to further the family, she is married to a man who turns out to be an opium addict. In order to keep her in this marriage and bound to the home, Mistress Ning’s feet are bound as well (which is part of Chinese custom). Over time, the bones of her feet are broken and shoved into the tiniest shoes possible in order both to look attractive to her husband and to keep her in pain so she would stay within the home. The irony is that the family falls into poverty due to the husband’s opium addition. Mistress Ning ends up on the street begging for the family: the only job for a homemaker who has no one to support her. Even worse, Mistress Ning’s little daughter Chinya is sold into servitude against Mistress Ning’s wishes and in order to support her husband’s opium habit.
As you can see, sexism is present within Mistress Ning’s marriage, bound feet, desperate poverty, and the selling of her own daughter.
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