"But what we do have, thanks to feminist historians, is a much broader range of possibilities for women in ancient China than the conventional historical record, so ably articulated by Goldin, would have it."
This formulation pits "feminist historians" vs. "the conventional historical record articulated by Goldin," and that's a false dichotomy. Let's not forget that plenty of feminist historians (such as Lily Lee) have criticized Ban Zhao too. Ban Zhao's own sister-in-law is reported to have complained that her precepts were too repressive. If only we could read that opinion today ...
I find RBG a much, much more inspiring figure than Ban Zhao. I think we can celebrate RBG without muddying the waters with a figure as controversial as Ban Zhao.
I have to question this statement:
"But what we do have, thanks to feminist historians, is a much broader range of possibilities for women in ancient China than the conventional historical record, so ably articulated by Goldin, would have it."
This formulation pits "feminist historians" vs. "the conventional historical record articulated by Goldin," and that's a false dichotomy. Let's not forget that plenty of feminist historians (such as Lily Lee) have criticized Ban Zhao too. Ban Zhao's own sister-in-law is reported to have complained that her precepts were too repressive. If only we could read that opinion today ...
I find RBG a much, much more inspiring figure than Ban Zhao. I think we can celebrate RBG without muddying the waters with a figure as controversial as Ban Zhao.