Event Report on Female + Film: Women: Their voices, and the stories we shared
Reported by Yuqing Wang (Class of 2025)
On the evening of May 7th, we gathered at the second-floor screening room of the DKU Library to watch the documentary Woman. Directed by Anastasia Mikova and Yann Arthus-Bertrand, this film doesn’t follow a traditional narrative—it offers no commentary or storyline. Instead, it invites 2,000 women from over 50 countries to simply face the camera and speak. About childhood. About motherhood. About freedom, violence, identity, and dreams. Each story uninterrupted. Every silence respected.
Throughout the hour-long screening, the room remained still. We sat quietly, watching the screen fill with women’s faces—some firm, some tired, some smiling, and some in tears. They spoke of loss, of resilience, of love and anger. Their words felt raw and unfiltered, and at the same time, incredibly gentle. No one whispered. No one moved. But eyes turned red, and heads bowed low in thought. Something deep was settling in the room.
After the film, a few students stayed for discussion, but everyone’s face showed reflection. There weren’t many words—but the shared silence felt heavy and warm. It was the kind of moment where we didn’t need to explain—we simply understood.
Woman wasn’t made to teach or convince. It was made so we could see—see women’s bodies, their emotions, their fears and desires, how they’ve survived in pain, and how they’ve quietly, stubbornly lived on. What lingers most are perhaps those ordinary women’s eyes—honest, direct, and unapologetic.
In a time when everything is fast, scattered, and constantly “explained,” we still need these spaces of quiet witnessing. We still need stories that are simply told.
This wasn’t just a film about them. It was—quietly and completely—about us.
Harmony Lab Conference – “Confucianism, Family, and Women”
May 9 (Friday) 9:00-12:00 AB (Academic Building) 1087
Harmony Lab is holding its first conference on Friday, May 9, 2025, sharing a year-long project.
The Harmony Lab is a nexus of philosophical research undertaken by Duke University, Duke Kunshan University, and Wuhan University. It builds on and extends the Harmony Lab at Duke University’s Franklin Humanities Institute. Under the broad theme of harmony, our DKU project focuses on the subtheme of gender and family harmony. We have four Co-PIs, Profs Hwa Yeong Wang and James Miller from DKU and Profs. Yong Li and Qin Liu from Wuhan University.
Four of the co-PIs aim to investigate the role of Confucian philosophy, ethics, and values with respect to the changing gender norms and family structures that are emerging in contemporary East Asian societies. As the first step to achieve this aim, we explore having a nuanced understanding of how Confucians have historically understood family structures and how contemporary Confucian philosophers are paying attention to contemporary issues such as gender diversity and declining birth rates.
<Schedule>
Moderator: Halla KIM (Sogang University, Korea)
09:00-10:00 Opening
09:15-10:00 <Keynote Speech> Prof. Roger Ames (Peking University)
“Making Yourself at Home: The Familial Roots of Confucian Philosophy”
10:00-10:30 LI Yong (Wuhan University)
“Mainland Confucianism and the Ideal Family”
10:30-11:00 LIU Qin (Wuhan University)
“Differences, Roles, and Fluidity: Exploring the Feminist Potential of Neo-Confucianism”
11:00-11:30 Hwa Yeong WANG (Duke Kunshan University)
“Metaphysics, Ritual, and Gender: The Integrated System of Korean Neo-Confucianism and Its Feminist Challenges”
11:30-12:00 James MILLER and Sue WANG (Duke Kunshan University)
“A Comparative Investigation of the Confucian Philosophy of Family”
Event Report – Beyond the Birthing Chamber: Alternative Public Services of Midwives in the Ming and Qing Dynasties
Reported by Yuting Zeng, class of 2026.
On the evening of April 25, 2025, the “Female+__” reading group sponsored by DKU Humanities Research Center hosted a lecture titled “Beyond the Birthing Chamber: Alternative Public Services of Midwives in the Ming and Qing Dynasties,” delivered by Professor Yue Gu from the History Department at Shanghai University and attended by over 30 students and faculty members. Professor Gu holds a B.S. degree from Northeastern University (NEU) in Boston, as well as MPhil and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Hong Kong. Her research focuses on gender history, social medical history, and the history of emotions in Ming-Qing China.
The lecture sought to expand the conventional understanding of midwives in late imperial China. Existing scholarship has primarily framed midwives within the context of childbirth and reproductive care, often overshadowed by male physicians’ writings on women’s health. In contrast, Professor Gu shifted the focus beyond the birthing chamber, revealing the wide array of public services midwives provided, including verifying chastity, determining sex, conducting autopsies, and caring for female criminals.
Professor Gu began by addressing the gendered construction of medical knowledge, noting that despite the dominance of male-authored medical texts, female practitioners occupied crucial spaces of practical authority. She traced the historical record of midwives back to the Yuan dynasty, referencing Nancun chuogenglu 南村辍耕录 (Notes from the Southern Village After Laying Down the Plow), and explained the classification of midwives (wenpo 稳婆 in Chinese) among the so-called sangu liupo 三姑六婆 (lit. three aunties and six mother-in-law), a phrase that reflects their entrenched role in community life.
Moving into specific examples, Professor Gu detailed the procedures midwives performed in legal and forensic contexts. In cases of verifying chastity for deceased women, as recorded in Xiyuan jilu洗冤集录 (Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified) by Song Ci 宋慈 (1186–1249), midwives were entrusted with delicate examinations whose outcomes could significantly affect familial and social reputations. Additionally, midwives served in judicial contexts involving pregnant female criminals; according to The Great Ming Code, if a condemned woman was found pregnant, her execution would be postponed until 100 days after childbirth, a process that necessitated midwives’ expert intervention.
Throughout her lecture, Professor Gu highlighted the paradox inherent in midwives’ societal position: while their authority derived from their intimate knowledge of the female body, their professional legitimacy was often undermined by deeply ingrained gender hierarchies. Their labor straddled the boundary between private and public realms, medical and legal spheres, revealing the complex negotiations of gender, expertise, and social trust in late imperial Chinese society.
The lecture concluded with a dynamic and thought-provoking Q&A session. Participants from diverse academic backgrounds engaged in lively discussions that expanded the lecture’s core themes. Questions explored issues such as the intersection of gendered labor and professional recognition, comparisons between midwifery practices in China and other cultural contexts, and the broader implications of bodily authority in historical and contemporary frameworks. Professor Gu offered incisive responses, further deepening the audience’s understanding of the material.
The event not only illuminated the alternative roles midwives played in history, but also opened a vibrant interdisciplinary dialogue about how bodily knowledge, gendered professions, and public service intersect and evolve across time. Through her insightful lecture and engaged conversation, Professor Gu invited the audience to reconsider the boundaries between medicine, law, and society in the Ming and Qing dynasties—and beyond.
Student Report on Reading Group for “Embracing Diversity: Developing Cultural Competence for Inclusive Education”
By Yaxuan Wang, Class of 2027
On April 17 2025, DKU faculty, staff, and students convened for our latest reading group session focusing on “Embracing Diversity: Developing Cultural Competence for Inclusive Education.” This session fostered an important dialogue centred on the intersections of disability and LGBTQ+ identities.
The session began with a reflection on the DKU’s recent Disabilities Week, providing context for the ensuing discussion. Participants then engaged with the week’s reading, “Because it’s who I am’: self-determination of LGBTQ adults with intellectual disability”, exploring themes relevant to the experiences of individuals navigating both disability and LGBTQ+ identity.
Facilitated by Dr. Zhenjie Weng and Dr. Yanan Zhao, the conversation covered a range of related topics. Participants discussed current issues surrounding disabilities, including challenges related to ADHD. The discussion then broadened to encompass the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, specifically considering the unique perspectives and challenges faced by individuals at the intersection of these identities. An important part of the conversation focused on understanding and supporting the partners of individuals with disabilities within the LGBTQ+ context. The group emphasized the need for greater understanding, empathy, and inclusive support systems.
The event was organized by Dr. Zhenjie Weng, Assistant Professor of English Language Education, and Dr. Yanan Zhao, Senior Lecturer of English for Academic Purposes, from the Language and Culture Center, and was sponsored by the Humanities Research Center. Student worker Yaxuan Wang contributed to the planning and success of the event.
HRC 2025 Spring Conference Film Screening
Join us for an evening of thought-provoking film screenings at Duke Kunshan University’s Humanities Research Center!
When: Thursday, April 17, 18:00-19:30
Where: HUM Space (AB1075A)
We’ll be showcasing two impactful films: Coolie Pink and Green (2010, 20 mins), directed by Patricia Mohammed, and Comfort Women: One Last Cry (2013, 50 mins).
Enjoy the engaging films and snacks as part of the HRC’s 2025 Spring Conference.
Don’t miss out on this powerful evening—see you there!
Reading Group: Cultural Competence in Inclusive Education
Diversity, Equity, Inclusiveness, and Justice is an essential topic in academia. Despite its wide discussion in academia, at the practical level, it still poses a challenge for educators seeking to enhance their teaching practices. It is crucial to ensure that educational materials and curricula are inclusive, relevant, and engaging for all students while creating safe and inclusive learning environments.
Location: AB3033(3C)
Date & Time: April 17, 12pm-1pm
Lunch will be provided!
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Student Report on Reading Group for “Embracing Diversity: Developing Cultural Competence for Inclusive Education”
By Yaxuan Wang, Class of 2027
On Friday, March 28, 2025, DKU faculty, staff, and students gathered for our second reading group session on “Embracing Diversity: Developing Cultural Competence for Inclusive Education.” This event brought together participants from various backgrounds for a timely and engaging discussion on the experiences of LGBTQ+ communities, with a particular focus on the Chinese social and cultural context.
The session began with a brief overview of the week’s reading, which examined the current landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals in China.The article highlighted the rise in visibility and online activism alongside persistent challenges such as censorship, traditional family structures, and limited legal recognition. Participants reflected on how these overlapping dynamics shape the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people in China, especially youth.
Facilitators Dr. Zhenjie Weng and Dr. Yanan Zhao led the group in an open and thoughtful conversation. Participants shared insights into how LGBTQ+ issues are discussed—or not discussed—within their own communities, and what kinds of language and representation are available to them. The discussion emphasized the importance of solidarity, active listening, and creating safer spaces where queer voices can be heard and respected.
The session concluded with a hands-on group activity, where participants were asked to rank five categories of policy recommendations from most to least important or feasible. The categories included: Legal and Policy Reforms; Public Awareness and Social Inclusion; Healthcare and Mental Health Services; Education and Employment Protections; and Support for Civil Society and Research. Each group compared their rankings and justified their choices based on real-world considerations, sparking further reflection on what meaningful change might look like in both local and national contexts.
The event was organized by Dr. Zhenjie Weng, Assistant Professor of English Language Education, and Dr. Yanan Zhao, Senior Lecturer of English for Academic Purposes, from the Language and Culture Center, and was sponsored by the Humanities Research Center. Student worker Yaxuan Wang contributed to the planning and success of the event.
Join Us for the Pre-HRC Spring Conference Gender Lecture Series
We’re excited to invite you to a series of dynamic sessions at the Pre-2025 Undergraduate Humanities Research Spring Conference: Gender and Sexuality. Prepare to immerse yourself in groundbreaking research, join vibrant discussions, and network with visionary scholars and peers!
• Speaker: Hyeyoung Woo, Professor of Sociology, Portland State University
• When: Tuesday, April 15, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM BJT
• Where: Lib 1113 on campus or Zoom (Meeting ID: 927 8924 0248)
Delve into the complexities of work–family balance, with insights from Korea and beyond.
• Where: Zoom (Meeting ID: 999 5172 1330)
Explore the evolving dialogue between digital identities and beauty standards.
• Speaker: Xiaofei Kang, Professor of Chinese Religion and History, George Washington University
• Where: Zoom (Meeting ID: 963 513 912)
Uncover the complex relationship between gender and religion in modern China.
• Speaker: Amy Adamczyk, Professor of Sociology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• When: Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 7:30 PM BJT
Gain a global perspective on reproductive rights and changing societal attitudes.
Mark your calendars and join us for these inspiring sessions—we can’t wait to explore these vital topics with you!
Women and Religious Questions in Modern China
The “religions question” and the “woman question” are both central to the discourse of Chinese modernity. This talk highlights a group of elderly and illiterate rural women in southwest China, who play a crucial role in shaping religious practices, ethnic identities, and local politics. Their story challenges male-dominated, textual oriented approaches to religious studies. By shifting the focus to the oral, informal, and marginalized, we place women at the center of Chinese religious life and advocate for deeper dialogues between gender and religious studies in the study of Chinese modernity.
Speaker’s Bio:
Dr. Xiaofei Kang is Professor of History and Religion at George Washington University, USA. She holds a Ph.D. in Chinese history from Columbia University. She teaches courses on religions in East Asia, and her research focuses on gender, ethnicity, and Chinese religions in traditional and modern China. She is the author of The Cult of the Fox: Power, Gender, and Popular Religion in Late Imperial and Modern China (Columbia University Press, 2006). She co-authored (with Donald S. Sutton) Contesting the Yellow Dragon: Ethnicity, Religion and the State in the Sino-Tibetan Borderland (Brill, 2016), and co-edited (with Jia Jinhua and Ping Yao) Gendering Chinese Religion: Subject, Identity and Body (SUNY Press, 2014). Her recent book, Enchanted Revolution: Ghosts, Shamans, and Gender Politics in China (Oxford, 2023) examines the intertwined discourses of religion, gender and the Chinese revolution. The book has been awarded the Joseph Levenson Book Award for 2005.
This event offers a unique opportunity to broaden our perspectives on the intersection of gender and religion in China. We look forward to your participation.
“Internet Celebrity Face” and the Aesthetics of Cosmetic Surgery
This paper explores the cultural politics of the cosmetological industry in China via the growing entrenchment of what I call fixed facial templates: the practice of producing near-identical faces via surgery, treatments and tweakments. I zero in on one hyper-dominant template: that of the so-called “internet celebrity face” or wanghonglian网红脸. Ubiquitous across China’s social media ecosystem, female wanghong project a persona which is appealing but also aesthetically exacting: groomed, cute, immaculate. Although this is a persona shaped by total habitus – physique, style, mannerisms, diction, vocal tone – it’s also powerfully centered on the face, or rather on a fixed facial template whose main traits are a pointed chin, straight brows, double eyelids, and a high-bridged nose. In this talk, I explore the spread of this facial template and the volatile social reactions that it stirs. To do this, I close-read a corpus of cosmetic surgery diaries posted on major cosmetological apps from 2017-2021, demonstrating that these image-text testimonials are marked by powerfully split feelings about fixed facial templates. People crave “internet celebrity face”, but many also openly despise it – and I argue that this tension is key to the power that the vast cosmetological industry leverages over its subjects. Pushing this point further, I go on to unpick the relationship between art history and the fixed facial template, showing that many artists across time and space have produced aesthetic visions of the golden ratio which set down hard ground rules for female beauty. These older practices of portraiture, I suggest, have a great deal to tell us about the beauty premium in the contemporary moment. I conclude by exploring “internet celebrity face” beyond the operating theatre, as a pervasive biopolitical visual grammar performed increasingly for the camera, and thence for the online world, via makeovers, filters, and beauty apps which “adjust” selfies to fit cookie cutter facial patterns. As our social universe is ever more mediated by the smartphone and its camera, the relationship between visual culture and our lived experience of the human face is becoming increasingly coercive.
Speaker’s Bio:
Margaret Hillenbrand is a professor of modern Chinese literature and visual culture at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on literary and visual studies in contemporary China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
