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Title:
New Woman” as “Nüshi” and “Nora”: A Case Study of Wu Ruonan’s Woman Writing
Abstract:
Wu Ruonan, identifying herself as a “Nüshi”, actively voiced herself in Chinese vernacular publications since late nineteenth century, and engaged in political and cultural activities as one of the earliest female members of Tongmenghui of China. After the 1911 Revolution in China, she advocated for Chinese modern families of monogamy with her theories and practices. Among which, Wu directly involved with the translations of the “Ibsen Special Issue” of the journal La Jeunesse, contributing to the discourse of “Nora” in rethinking and reshaping women’s possible identities in the family, nation and society. “Nüshi”, originated from Chinese cultural traditions of intellectuals, together with the introducing ideas of “Nora”, constructed a new societal identity of “New Woman” in late nineteenth and early twentieth century China under Wu Ruonan’s woman writing. By analyzing texts, para-texts and intertextuality regarding to Wu Ruonan’s voices and practices, this research will decode the possibilities and also the “weakness” of her “New Woman”.
