Leaving home: women directors and the image of women in their films in mainland China from 2001 to 2021

Abstract

This study re-examines Chinese feminism through Nora's leaving home, a symbol of women's emancipation introduced during the May Fourth Movement. It argues that existing Western and socialist feminist approaches do not fully capture the complexity of Chinese women's experiences across changing historical and social contexts.

To address this gap, the research proposes Nora's Metamorphosis as a new feminist methodology, drawing on Foucault's genealogy and Braidotti's cartography. Rather than treating Nora as a fixed literary figure, the study understands her as an evolving symbol of female subjectivity, agency, and identity.

Through the analysis of literature and film by female writers and directors, the study traces Nora's transformation across modern China. It explores three dimensions: the Heterogeneous Nora, the Unspeakable Nora, and the Diasporic Nora, revealing how women's experiences have been shaped by patriarchy, socialism, and global neoliberalism.

By centering women's voices and lived experiences, this research offers a new framework for understanding Chinese feminism and the evolving role of women in Chinese modernity.

Thesis embargoed until 31 July 2028

Date of Award	Jul 2026
Original language	English
Supervisor	Murat Akser (Supervisor), Victoria McCollum (Supervisor) & Lisa Fitzpatrick (Supervisor)