Title: Gendering Literacy in Rural China - A Field StudySubmitted by: Elizabeth Billard, Centre for Asian Studies, University of AdelaideFufeng County, Shaanxi Province, was recognized in 1995 as having met the national government's criteria for counties which have eliminated illiteracy. With a literacy rate of 98.7% for those aged 15-45 years and enrolment rates, graduation rates and drop-out rates in primary and junior middle schools which are considerably better than those across the country, Fufeng does not seem, at first glance, to be the logical place to do a field study focusing on female illiteracy. Nevertheless, in the course of listening to women talk about their everyday lives, it seems that many literate women find little use for their education apart from helping children with their homework. This paper finds that traditional gender expectations continue to undermine the benefits that literacy and education might bring. It also suggests that schools play an important role in gendering literacy practice. Return to Abstracts menuCarol Burnett Phone: 61 - 3 - 9349 1899 Email: c.burnett@asialink.unimelb.edu.au
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