Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 2005-07-05 Research on Minority-girl Education in China: Critique and Recommendations Jiesu Luo Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Educational Leadership Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Luo, Jiesu, "Research on Minority-girl Education in China: Critique and Recommendations" (2005). Theses and Dissertations. 594. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/594 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. RESEARCH ON MINORITY­GIRL EDUCATION IN CHINA: CRITIQUE AND RECOMMENDATIONS by Jiesu Luo A thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations Brigham Young University April 2005 Copyright © 2004 Jiesu Luo All Rights Reserved BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY GRADUATE COMMITTEE APPROVAL of a thesis submitted by Jiesu Luo This thesis has been read by each member of the following graduate committee and by majority vote has been found to be satisfactory. Date E. Vance Randall, khair Date ICp-ll 1, Ldo5 Date BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY As chair of the candidate's graduate committee, I have read the thesis of Jiesu Luo in its final form and have found that (1) its format, citations, and bibliographical style are consistent and acceptable and fulfill university and department style requirements; (2) its illustrative materials including figures, tables, and charts are in place; and (3) the final manuscript is satisfactory to the graduate committee and is ready for submission to the university library. v Date E. Vance Randall Chair, Graduate Committee Accepted for the Department Educational Leadership and Foundations E. Vance Randall Department Chair Accepted for the College David McKay College of Education ABSTRACT RESEARCH ON MINORITY­GIRL EDUCATION IN CHINA: CRITIQUE AND RECOMMENDATIONS Jiesu Luo Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations Master of Education Minority­girl education in China is a new field of research. This study seeks to explore into this field through reviewing and analyzing the available studies that have been done. The literature has been collected through searching library holdings, Computer Assisted Research Search, and online searching. The criteria against which the literature is to be reviewed and analyzed are in the form of questions and are divided into six categories of introduction, theoretical framework, method, results, discussion (conclusion/recommendations), and abstract or summary; so that all the aspects of a study can be examined. The research field of minority­girl education in China is found to be improving. A summary of the current educational practices concerning minority­girl education in China and the challenges the minority girls face when it comes to education is made after the literature collected has been reviewed. Recommendations on future research orientations are made based on the findings. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to say thanks to: Dr. E. Vance Randall, for your fatherly guidance and patience; Dr. Donald B. Holsinger and Dr. Macleans A. Geo­JaJa, for your willingness to work around my schedule; My parents, for sending me to school even though I am a minority girl, and more; My sister and friend Qianlai, for she never failed to answer my call of help. viii ix TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................vii TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................1 PRELUDE: SIGNS OF THE PROBLEM ......................................................................................................... 1 Story (1) ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Story (2) ........................................................................................................................................... 2 Story (3) ........................................................................................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 5 CONCEPTUALIZING MINORITY GIRLS ..................................................................................................... 5 MINORITY­GIRL EDUCATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES........................................................................ 5 SITUATING THE PROBLEM IN CHINA........................................................................................................ 9 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM .............................................................................................................. 18 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY ...................................................................................................................... 19 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ........................................................................................................................ 19 METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................................. 20 OUTLINE OF THE STUDY ...................................................................................................................... 22 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY............................................................................................................... 23 SUMMARY........................................................................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER TWO: METHODOLOGY...........................................................................26 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 26 LITERATURE COLLECTION.................................................................................................................... 26 Library Holdings ............................................................................................................................ 26 Computer Assisted Research Search (CARS) ................................................................................... 28 Online Searches.............................................................................................................................. 30 International Organization Websites Searching ............................................................................... 31 Course Materials Searching............................................................................................................ 32 LITERATURE CLASSIFICATION AND TRANSLATION ................................................................................. 32 GUIDELINES FOR ANALYSIS.................................................................................................................. 33 Introduction.................................................................................................................................... 34 Theoretical Framework................................................................................................................... 34 Method........................................................................................................................................... 36 Results............................................................................................................................................ 36 x Discussion (Conclusion and Recommendations).............................................................................. 36 Abstract or Summary...................................................................................................................... 36 CRITERIA............................................................................................................................................ 36 Group I, Practice............................................................................................................................ 37 Group II, Speculations.................................................................................................................... 39 Group III, Research Reports on Specific Problems .......................................................................... 41 SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER THREE: RESULTS .................................................................................... 47 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 47 SEARCH RESULTS...............................................................................................................................