On March 19th, China Crossroads was invited to attend the symposium, Women Changing China, hosted by Barnard College. The symposium honored the legacy of Kang Tongbi, one of China’s earliest feminists, whose activism contributed to a wave of improvements in the lives of many Chinese women. The symposium’s participants included television anchor and media entrepreneur Yang Lan; acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Yan Geling; Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ruby Yang; and renowned women’s rights-advocate Wu Qing.

I apologize for the lateness of this post due to Youtube issues. Below are the summaries for each of the posts. I really encourage you to watch the footage because these women are truly inspiring and I was truly honored to be able to talk with one of my heroes, People’s Deputy Wu Qing.

[youtube]http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XODQzNjA1NDA=.html [/youtube]

Famous novelist and screenwriter Yan Geling talks about her incredible background and looks outward to reflect on the significant change that has occurred for China’s female writers since the time of Kang Tongbi and the Cultural Revolution. Shortly thereafter, famous documentary filmmaker Ruby Yang shares with us her experience as a female in the filmmaking industry and the change she has seen for China’s women vis-a-vis her family.

[youtube]http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XODQzNjQxMDA=.html [/youtube]

Television anchor Yang Lan talks about her career journey and how women’s roles have changed over the past 50 years. From Mao Zedong’s “women hold up half the sky” to the effect of the one-child policy on girls’ education, she discusses Chinese women’s opportunities and rights in society.

[youtube]http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XODQzNzIwODg=.html[/youtube]

People’s Deputy and women’s rights activist Wu Qing talks about the challenges facing China’s women today, specifically those facing rural women. She also gives us a framework for gender identity and relationships, as well as an overview of the NGO, Rural Women Beijing.

[youtube]http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XODQzNzM3NTY=.html [/youtube]

Wu Qing talks more about education for rural girls and what it means to be a global citizen. She also discusses what an individual can do to be proactive about improving women’s roles in society.

[youtube]http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XODQzNzY0MTY=.html [/youtube]

Crossroads has one on one time with Wu Qing. We discuss other NGOs doing great work for women’s issues, Rural Women’s method of work and support networks for China’s rural women.