Read the following poem by Elizabeth Croll. Croll describes the evolving identities of women in China. China is a very large country and contains varying attitudes. The following poem in her book describes an attitude that could be considered more
traditional within China's culture.
After reading, please post a reaction to the poem. Do you think the different treatments of sons and daughters is fair? Do you think the depiction is realistic? If so, to what extent? What connections can you make to your own culture?
Please comment on at least one other post.
Daughter Order
When a son is born
Let him sleep on the bed
Clothe him with fine clothes
And give him jade to play with
How Lordy his cry is!
May he grow up to wear crimson
And be the lord of the clan and the tribe.
When a daughter is born,
Let her sleep on the ground
Wrap her in common wrappings
And give her broken tiles for play things
May she have no faults, no merits of her own
May she well attend to food and wine
And bring no discredit to her parents.
