About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherRowman & Littlefield Publishers, Incorporated

ISBN-100742555313

ISBN-139780742555310

eBay Product ID (ePID)64445940

Product Key Features

Book TitleDrowning Girls in China : Female Infanticide in China since 1650

Number of Pages186 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication Year2008

TopicGender Studies, Women's Studies, Asia / China, Criminology

IllustratorYes

GenreSocial Science, History

AuthorD. E. Mungello

FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height0.4 in

Item Weight9.8 Oz

Item Length9.2 in

Item Width6.1 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

LCCN2008-002614

Dewey Edition22

ReviewsIn this work, written with compassion, D. E. Mungello aims to tell a 'human' story of female infanticide in China. . . . Given the sensitivity of the subject and the relative scarcity of research, in particular in English, Mungello has greatly enriched our knowledge of this topic. Readers will find in it abundantly useful information. Its publication will no doubt pave the way for more inquiries into an important yet difficult topic that has to this date deterred many other historians., In this evocatively titled volume, D. E. Mungello explores the causes, consequences, and multifarious reactions to female infanticide in China....Fascinating., In this evocatively titled volume, D. E. Mungello explores the causes, consequences, and multifarious reactions to female infanticide in China. . . . Fascinating., Both [of Mungello's] books very candidly treat themes which, in the general celebration over the friendship and cultural exchange between Europe and China, are commonly neglected, namely, sexual abuse and infanticide....In sum, these are two books that in addition to being worth reading are also thought-provoking., Shocking, yet highly informative. Mungello has taken the most difficult and personal of topics--female infanticide--and with thorough research and thoughtful consideration has given us an historical account of the practice in China., Both [of Mungello's] books very candidly treat themes which, in the general celebration over the friendship and cultural exchange between Europe and China, are commonly neglected, namely, sexual abuse and infanticide. . . . In sum, these are two books that in addition to being worth reading are also thought-provoking., In this work, written with compassion, D. E. Mungello aims to tell a 'human " story of female infanticide in China. . . . Given the sensitivity of the subject and the relative scarcity of research, in particular in English, Mungello has greatly enriched our knowledge of this topic. Readers will find in it abundantly useful information. Its publication will no doubt pave the way for more inquiries into an important yet difficult topic that has to this date deterred many other historians., "This study represents a milestone in understanding the history of Chinese childhood." --Dan Dervin, Journal Of Psychohistory "In this work, written with compassion, D. E. Mungello aims to tell a 'human' story of female infanticide in China. . . . Given the sensitivity of the subject and the relative scarcity of research, in particular in English, Mungello has greatly enriched our knowledge of this topic. Readers will find in it abundantly useful information. Its publication will no doubt pave the way for more inquiries into an important yet difficult topic that has to this date deterred many other historians." --Weijing Lu, Journal of Asian Studies "In this evocatively titled volume, D. E. Mungello explores the causes, consequences, and multifarious reactions to female infanticide in China. . . . Fascinating." -- American Historical Review "Both [of Mungello's] books very candidly treat themes which, in the general celebration over the friendship and cultural exchange between Europe and China, are commonly neglected, namely, sexual abuse and infanticide. . . . In sum, these are two books that in addition to being worth reading are also thought-provoking." -- Monumenta Serica: Journal of Oriental Studies "Professor Mungello's important study focuses on the specific and at times widespread phenomenon of female infanticide in nineteenth-century China. He is to be congratulated for having expertly tackled a sensitive issue which has hitherto received scant scholarly attention." --R. G. Tiedemann, Centre for the Study of Christianity in China, King's College London "Shocking, yet highly informative. Mungello has taken the most difficult and personal of topics-female infanticide-and with thorough research and thoughtful consideration has given us an historical account of the practice in China." --Kathleen L. Lodwick, Penn State Lehigh Valley, Shocking, yet highly informative. Mungello has taken the most difficult and personal of topics "female infanticide "and with thorough research and thoughtful consideration has given us an historical account of the practice in China., Professor Mungello "s important study focuses on the specific and at times widespread phenomenon of female infanticide in nineteenth-century China. He is to be congratulated for having expertly tackled a sensitive issue which has hitherto received scant scholarly attention., Professor Mungello's important study focuses on the specific and at times widespread phenomenon of female infanticide in nineteenth-century China. He is to be congratulated for having expertly tackled a sensitive issue which has hitherto received scant scholarly attention., Both [of Mungello's] books very candidly treat themes which, in the general celebration over the friendship and cultural exchange between Europe and China, are commonly neglected, namely, sexual abuse and infanticideâ€¦.In sum, these are two books that in addition to being worth reading are also thought-provoking.

Dewey Decimal304.6/680951

Table Of ContentChapter 1: Female Infanticide Chapter 2: Female Infanticide in Nineteenth-Century China Chapter 3: Official and Literati Efforts to Combat Infanticide Chapter 4: Infanticide Deniers Chapter 5: The European Cult of Chinese Children Chapter 6: Christian Mission Efforts to Aid Foundlings Chapter 7: Female Infanticide in Modern China Conclusion

SynopsisThis groundbreaking book offers the first full analysis of the long-neglected and controversial subject of female infanticide in China. Although infanticide and child abandonment were worldwide phenomena from antiquity down to the nineteenth century when massive numbers of children were still being abandoned in Europe, China was unique in targeting girls almost exclusively. Yet despite its persistence for two thousand years, little has been published on a practice that is deeply sensitive within China and little understood by outsiders. Drawing on little-known Chinese documents and illustrations, noted historian D. E. Mungello describes the causes and continuation of female infanticide since 1650 despite efforts by Confucian moralists, Buddhist teachings, government officials, and even imperial edicts to stop the practice. The arrival of Christian missionaries led to foreign involvement as well, with Catholic priests baptizing abandoned and dying infants in Nanjing and Beijing beginning in the early 1600s. Mission efforts peaked in the nineteenth century when the European-based Society of the Holy Childhood urged Catholic children to contribute their pennies to help neglected children in China. However, most of the infant victims were drowned at birth in the privacy of their homes, thereby escaping the scrutiny of the law and the public. Mungello brings this secretive practice to light with a nuanced and balanced analysis of the cultural, economic, and social causes of early infanticide and its contemporary manifestation in sex-selected abortion as a result of the government's one-child policy. Presenting female infanticide as a human rather than a distinctly Chinese problem, he estimates the tragic loss of girls in the millions., This groundbreaking book offers the first full analysis of the long-neglected and controversial subject of female infanticide in China. Drawing on little-known Chinese documents and illustrations, noted historian D. E. Mungello describes the causes of female infanticide and its persistence for two thousand years.

LC Classification NumberHV6541.C45M86 2008