Issues in Chinese Society

This course introduces students to issues in the study of Chinese society through a mixed set of cultural perceptions in a global context. It is issue-oriented, covering such problems as self, others, norms of interaction, private and public spheres, families, social status, class, gender, work-unit (danwei), national identity, and Chinese perceptions of the world. The course addresses some seemingly well-known contradictions in Chinese society and culture and explores their underlying causes and the complexities of the issues involved.