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2007

Some Thoughts on China's Sexual Revolution: Sexuality and Social Change in Contemporary China

Sun Zhongxin Carnegie Mellon University

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some thoughts on china's sexual revolution sexuality and social change in contemporary china Sun Zhongxin

The InternationalResource Network's short article seeks co address some of the physical, which among ocher things once websitewill debut this spring at www. sociological faccors cbat have led to the contained an indication of the woman's irnweb.org.To inauguratethe website, the current turning point in sexuality in the virginity, is no longer obligatory. The new principles reflected a respect for hu­ IRNhas commissionedessays by sexuality contemporary Chinese social context. man rights, a protection of marital free­ studiesresearchers from aroundthe world. TheMarket Reform and Opening-upPolicy dom, and a change in the government's Authorswere askedto reflect on sexuality China's reform and opening-up policy role with regards to sexual issues. studies,and its relationsto movementsfor has caused a number of broad transforma­ While the major principles of the current sexualrights or GLBTrights, in their regions. tions in Chinese society. Until recently, Chinese family planning policy aim to The articles will appearon the site in their the field of sociology in China had rarely conrrol the population and enhance the concerned itself with new issues in the overaJI population quality, the side effect originallanguage, and will also be translated field of sexuality. Yet the great influence of the policy is to promote a separation into at least one of the website'sfour main placed on people's sex lives during the of sexual behavior from reproductive languages-Chinese,English, French, and process of social transition cannot be purposes. If a couple can only have one Spanish. Dr. Sun Zhongxin,whose article overlooked. The rejection of the ideals of child, sexual behavior can nor longer be is excerptedbelow and is one of severales­ the Cultural Revolution, during which sanctioned sole! y for biological purposes. saysfrom China,taught the first homosexual sex was used as a poli cical cool for social For the first time, changes in the legal control, played an influential role in code publicly recognize sex nor just in studiescourse at FudanUniversity in 2005. bringing about these changes. biological terms, but as an aspect of the During the Cultural Revolution, pursuit of happiness. everyone wore the same uniform. Women Thelast two last years saw two several tried co hide chei t feminine curves under StableEconomic Development and changes in the public discourse acound their cloches. Individual sexual prefer­ Consumerism sex and sexuality in China. So what are ences were supposed to give way co lofty Various sex products are now sold some of the most controversial sex-related revolutionary ideals. Extra-marital affairs openly in the marker. Information about copies to be raised in China recently Ac­ were portrayed as a derogacory lifestyle sex and sexuality is spreading directly cording to an article in the Beijin Sci-Tech and pre-marital sex was construed as or indirectly through such public media newspaper: immoral. Homosexuality was illegal and as street-side advertising. In addition to would be punished under the statutes for being accessible in stores, on school cam­ • hundreds of female college stu­ "hooliganism." A person had to be sexu­ puses, and on TV and radio programs, dents refused to sign a "chastity ally well-behaved in order co advance in information about sex can also be quickly concracc"; his or her career. easily found on rhe Internet. All chis • a billionaire placed marriage ad for Recently, however, reforms in the information, good and bad, has helped a virgin; area of sexuality have led to less govern­ push aside many of the traditional sexual • "flash marriages" gained popularity ment control over individuals' private taboos and thus undermined traditional among the young in the city; lives. These changes are reflected in the norms of sexual practice. • Chinese homosexuals made their state's diminished interference with In the legal arena, sexual minorities, "debut" on CCTV, the television and control of sex-related areas, in more including gays and lesbians, are appeal­ network of the People's Republic sexual information and produces openly ing for their rights; in che marketplace, of China; available, in a diversity of sexual life­ the pursuit of profit is creating market • the first homosexual studies course styles, and in the strong appeal of under­ niches for sexual minorities. The devel­ opened for students at Fudan Uni­ standing sexual rights as human rights. oping economy and consumer culture versity; This slow retreat of the government's role has led co more emphasis on individual • the first Chinese homosexual mar­ in the control of the personal life can be enjoyment and a newfound respect for riage cook place on the Internet. traced co at least Occober 2003, when diversity. the new marriage registration principles Of these six news items, three related passed. These principles simplified the TheRise of the MiddleClass in China co homosexuality, two related to female processes of marriage and divorce. The When we calk about social change in chastity, and one revealed a change in committed parties no longer need certifi­ contemporary China, we cannot ignore attitude cowards sexual marriage: they cation or confirmation from their place of rhe great changes in and reorganiza- all reveal changing attitudes coward work or the local Resident Committee co tion of social stratification. One of the sex and sexual behavior in China. This get married or divorced. The pre-marital most important features is che rise of the middle class. sexualitymust be openly discussedin order to addressconcerns about the aids epidemic White collar workers in emphasize women's sexual rights and the and human rights. Various projects in China tend to focus on their personal diversity of sexualities among Chinese China on sexuality, reproductive health, happiness and ro pay more attention to women. and AIDS prevention have raised people's their own quality of life. They are also awareness of non-conforming sexuali­ more likely ro remain politically conser­ The Roleof the Mediaand the Internet ties. Some non-profit international and vative. Mose website owners and users The media is on of the most potent national organizations are also working in are white collar workers, and some other catalytic agents of sexual revolution in China. In addition, the international aca­ social groups also are comprised mostly China. The Internet wields influence on demic community, together with Chinese of members of the middle class, includ­ sexual behavior through promoting alli­ scholars, are sponsoring workshops and ing the "DINK" family (double income, ances, sharing knowledge, and providing conferences for research on sexuality. no kids), single person households, and a platform where diverse voices can be cohabicacing couples who violate the heard. Many informal homosexual social Conclusion traditional sex norms. The middle class networks originally developed through Some argue that because the sexual is also the target group for most gay bars, Internet and private websites. There are revolution is Western, it is therefore elating parries, "Daring on Saturday" many stories of individuals who came foreign and chaotic. However, having programs, and sports groups, among ro accept their sexual identity mainly analyzed the inscicucional basis for the others, in Chinese cities. The rapid rise because of the Internet. It is obvious that sexual revolution in contemporary China and growth of the middle class has che the Internee is a powerful channel for from a sociological perspective, it is clear potential ro pcoduce new emancipation people co find sexual partners, to organize the sexual revolution has deep local roots. discourses for different sexual minorities, offline activities, or just simply to have Social policy, political reform, economic including gay men and lesbians, that will access ro sexual knowledge and sex-relat­ development, and the rise of middle class co break the silence. ed information. The Internet provides a in China have all led ro the formation level of anonymity that is otherwise rare of out sexual cultures and the change in Popularizationof HigherEducation in Chinese society attitudes coward sexuality. The key turn­ The impact of higher education on ing points have been the development of China's sexual revolution cannot be un­ Openingthe door: AIDSand Sexuality the Internet, the use of HIV prevention derescimacecl. As entrance races inro Chi­ Recently, the importance of AIDS discourse to talk about sexuality, and nese universities soar, younger people in prevention in China has been stressed by globalization. The change of talk about China may be adopting different sexual both the global society and the Chinese sexuality, far more than che change in ideologies from their elder generation, in government. Sexuality must be openly sex behavior itself, reflects the dramatic part because they have more opportuni­ discussed in order to address concerns transformations of the past two or three ties co study various human and social about the AIDS epidemic. For example, decades. sciences. With the increasing availability in the summer of 2005, CCTV discussed Although there are still too few of higher education in Chinese cities, the topic of AIDS in a show titled, "Ho­ scholars engaged in sexuality studies in young people are more geared coward mosexuality: Confronting is Better than the social science field, and the sociologi­ the pursuit of equality, freedom and Evading." Scholars and activists realized cal study of sexuality is still marginal, self-realization. At the same time, the char discussions of sexuality, especially the voices claiming sexual rights can opinions and ideas of elite intellectuals, homosexuality and commercial sex work, now be heard. Meanwhile, the various such as professors, researchers, lawyers were more likely to be viewed as legiti­ facets of the sexual revolution have raised and policy-making consultants are being mate in the context of discussions of HIV a claim for more feasible strategies and expressed more frequently to the public risk. They have been developing strate­ countermeasures, such as advocating at the media reports and conferences. gies co work rogecher with rhe govern­ sexual education among young people, ment to prevent the spread of AIDS. raising public conscious about safe sex, Feministdiscourse in China fighting against all kinds of discrimina­ Although gender equality is one of Globalizationand Allianceof SocialForces tion and ignorance, protecting women's China's national policies, co a large extent It has become hard to close the door rights, advocating respect for diversity, mainstream feminise discourse in China on globalization since China adopted a equality and harmony, and teaming up rends co ignore sexuality issues. Consid­ marker reform policy. wi ch all the social ering rhose topics either not important Globalization creates forces such as non-for­ or fearing that raising chem will bring an environment in profit organizations, unnecessary trouble, most feminist which many people government organiza­ scholars stick to che so-called "signifi­ travel across countries tions and academic cant issues," such as women's employ­ and from one region institutions. ment, education, political participation, ro another in China. marriage and family. Issues specifically It creates informa- concerning women's sexualiry were also tion sharing, product SunZhongxin, PhD, - avoided in the past. Even so, the critical sharing, capital flow, is an associate thinking of feminist discourses has chal­ and value sharing, and professorin the Depart­ lenged stereotyped gender roles, includ­ ment of Sociologyat includes some basic FudanUniversity. ing sexuality roles. The latter especially understanding of sexual has influenced many young people. A rights, gender equality few feminist scholars have now starred to