CHINA, NATIONAL, SOCIETY, EDITORIAL: A Third Sex?
By Yu Zhijuan
Nowadays, there is a statement prevailing throughout universities in China, that is, people on campus can be divided into three groups: male, female and female PhD students.
I do not know when the statement became popular, and I still have not found any sound reason to separate female PhDs from other ladies. But it seems that college students have already accepted the new notion, and often cite it as a warning not to be the so-called "third group of people."
Being the third group implies that female PhDs neither belong in a women's world nor are welcomed by men. Compared with other ladies, they have no flavor of women; and academically, they compete with their male peers. It sounds like Plato's theory about three sexes revived! (In Plato’s theory, originally there were three sexes instead of two existing in the human world: man, woman and man-woman.)
In some people's minds, female PhDs are all serious pedants, talking about "philosophy" everyday and articulating terms hard to understand. They always have a sense of superiority and keep people at a distance. Moreover, they seldom pay attention to their appearance and don't know how to enjoy life. Therefore, considering love and marriage, they are absolutely not the appropriate ones to choose!
But does the caricature really reflect the truth?
A young female writer Xin Tang Mina claims in her novel that this is an epoch of blurring boundaries between gender identities. People are no longer divided based on their genders but according to their adaptability and capability. Only those who are more competitive can survive in this world.
Traditional Chinese women held the view that doing well independently was no better than marrying a good guy. However, things now are completely different from pre-modern society. Women are unwilling to be bound by heavy household chores and play the role of full-time housewives. They step out of the house, do the same jobs and earn money as men do.
Nevertheless, in the job market, it is depressing for women to find out that many want ads read: male candidates only, or male candidates considered first. In this patriarchal society, women have few choices but to improve themselves gradually to be more competitive. And pursuing a doctorate degree is no doubt a good path.
Since women, equally as men, can receive all levels of education, many have succeeded in the realms of science and art, due to their talent, strong-will and distinctive perspective on the world.
But the thing beyond my understanding is that once a man receives his doctor's degree, he will be respected as a true man; however, if a woman becomes a PhD after years of hard working, she will not be treated as a woman again!
People think that the old saying, "woman is virtuous without knowledge," has long been abandoned. But the facts tell us that it continues still. If a man chooses a girlfriend, he is likely to look for one less educated than him. It is usually through men's eyes that women PhDs are arrogant and difficult to get along with. Then isn't it a problem of these guys' lack of self-confidence?
It is true that women studying for a doctorate make a great sacrifice of their youth and family life. Because of a tight schedule sometimes, young girls even have no time to enjoy romance. Some married ones have to leave their kids for about three years to focus on study and research.
However, it doesn't mean that they do not love life. Upon meeting them, you will find that they are as beautiful and bright as other ladies: Sports, traveling, fashion, movies and pop music are still young girls' favorites. And those who are married never forget their responsibilities as mothers and wives.
Nowadays, there is a statement prevailing throughout universities in China, that is, people on campus can be divided into three groups: male, female and female PhD students.
I do not know when the statement became popular, and I still have not found any sound reason to separate female PhDs from other ladies. But it seems that college students have already accepted the new notion, and often cite it as a warning not to be the so-called "third group of people."
Being the third group implies that female PhDs neither belong in a women's world nor are welcomed by men. Compared with other ladies, they have no flavor of women; and academically, they compete with their male peers. It sounds like Plato's theory about three sexes revived! (In Plato’s theory, originally there were three sexes instead of two existing in the human world: man, woman and man-woman.)
In some people's minds, female PhDs are all serious pedants, talking about "philosophy" everyday and articulating terms hard to understand. They always have a sense of superiority and keep people at a distance. Moreover, they seldom pay attention to their appearance and don't know how to enjoy life. Therefore, considering love and marriage, they are absolutely not the appropriate ones to choose!
But does the caricature really reflect the truth?
A young female writer Xin Tang Mina claims in her novel that this is an epoch of blurring boundaries between gender identities. People are no longer divided based on their genders but according to their adaptability and capability. Only those who are more competitive can survive in this world.
Traditional Chinese women held the view that doing well independently was no better than marrying a good guy. However, things now are completely different from pre-modern society. Women are unwilling to be bound by heavy household chores and play the role of full-time housewives. They step out of the house, do the same jobs and earn money as men do.
Nevertheless, in the job market, it is depressing for women to find out that many want ads read: male candidates only, or male candidates considered first. In this patriarchal society, women have few choices but to improve themselves gradually to be more competitive. And pursuing a doctorate degree is no doubt a good path.
Since women, equally as men, can receive all levels of education, many have succeeded in the realms of science and art, due to their talent, strong-will and distinctive perspective on the world.
But the thing beyond my understanding is that once a man receives his doctor's degree, he will be respected as a true man; however, if a woman becomes a PhD after years of hard working, she will not be treated as a woman again!
People think that the old saying, "woman is virtuous without knowledge," has long been abandoned. But the facts tell us that it continues still. If a man chooses a girlfriend, he is likely to look for one less educated than him. It is usually through men's eyes that women PhDs are arrogant and difficult to get along with. Then isn't it a problem of these guys' lack of self-confidence?
It is true that women studying for a doctorate make a great sacrifice of their youth and family life. Because of a tight schedule sometimes, young girls even have no time to enjoy romance. Some married ones have to leave their kids for about three years to focus on study and research.
However, it doesn't mean that they do not love life. Upon meeting them, you will find that they are as beautiful and bright as other ladies: Sports, traveling, fashion, movies and pop music are still young girls' favorites. And those who are married never forget their responsibilities as mothers and wives.
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