Post #1 Form A

In the book Empress by Shan Sa, there is a distinctive cultural difference from the United States in differing treatment of the sexes. Ancient China was highly patriarchal. Men were in charge. If pregnant, you wanted a son. Men had the most power. Men, men, men, men, men.
When Wu is born her father asks, '"Boy or girl?" No one replied. The man grabbed me and tried to tear open my swaddling. He was interrupted by a woman's quiet wail: "Another girl, my Lord." "Ah!" he cried before dissolving in tears.' (2-3) So heartbroken to have another girl is he that her father cries! Later in the book, after going though the ritual of toddlers choosing on of many items set before them in order to tell what their future will be like, another states, "It is truly a shame that she is not a boy." (5) It is then decided upon to dress her like a boy and give her the education of a boy because the item she chose was her father's sword meaning that she would become very strong and a "mistress of a noble warrior household". Even this is only allowed because she is the daughter of a general and has all the 'signs' of being someone of power.