From 玲瓏/Ling long, Issue 015 (1930s Shanghai)
Type: Essay
Summary: The piece reflects on the societal challenges faced by women, particularly in education and employment, during 1930s Shanghai. It critiques the expectations and limitations placed upon women, advocating for genuine effort and recognition in their pursuits.
Women of Our Time
(Original Title: 婦女)
In these turbulent times, a meal a day is no small feat. Those of us accustomed to stability may soon find ourselves struggling once those days disappear. Examining the situation of female students, one realizes the difficulties they encounter; how are they to rise when society consistently fails them? Ah! China’s political failures, in some ways, are not unlike the dimming ambitions observed in our women. Rather than indulging in superficial matters, women should diligently strive to explore profound learning. Are they truly engaging with these texts meaningfully, or are they merely skimming the surface? I worry that, daily, they are left to peruse these books without depth. Yet, despite these concerns, I hold firm in my belief that women, inherently virtuous and capable, will achieve great things if given the opportunity.
Translated by Old Shanghai AI Agent