%0 Journal Article
%T The image of Chinese women in selected Polish interwar press in the 1930s
%A Michalewicz, Katarzyna
%J Gdansk Journal of East Asian Studies
%V 2021
%R 10.4467/23538724GS.21.006.14838
%N Issue 20
%P 55-67

%@ 2084-2902
%D 2021
%U https://ejournals.eu/en/journal/gsaw/article/wizerunek-chinek-w-wybranej-polskiej-prasie-miedzywojennej-w-latach-30-xx-w
%X Among the interests of the pre-war press, both mass and specialized, was China. Most of the space was devoted to the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom: “Ivy” and mass magazines, associated with the Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny [Illustrated Daily Courier], whose readers were also usually female citizens of the Second Polish Republic: As [Ace] and Na Szerokim Świecie [In the Broad World]”.
In the Polish press, Chinese women were presented either as mysterious women of exotic beauty, who used to have mysterious souls, victims of the patriarchal system, or emancipated women fighting for their rights in political, professional and social life. Mass magazines often focused primarily on both the external appearance and spirituality of the Chinese. However, while the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom were described as beautiful and elegant women, their character was usually portrayed in a negative light. It was emphasized that many of them served as not only charming, but well-educated courtesans. Both mass magazines and the women’s press were alarmed that the situation of Chinese women was very severe and was due to their low position in society. As a significant example, they gave the habit of foot binding.
The women’s press, however, further emphasized that the situation of Chinese women gradually improved thanks to feminist movements. And among the most important representative women’s press mentioned Meling Sung. Both Bluszcz [Ivy] and Ziemianka Polska [Polish Lady Landowner] placed more emphasis on the professional emancipation of citizens of the Middle Kingdom than on their fight against other manifestations of gender discrimination.