An Analysis of The House of Earth’s Main Characters from a Perspective of Socialist Feminism

Abstract

In the 21st century, gender equality is seen a basic requirement for civilization, yet gender inequality still exists. Gender gap is an establishment of historical and cultural stereotypes that women are physically and mentally inferior to men, so they are given fewer opportunities. Great literature is made powerful to reflect and criticize gender inequality leading to women’s liberation. This study thus explores Pearl S. Buck’s The House of Earth Trilogy from a socialist feminism perspective aiming to identify barriers to gender inequality issues as reflected in the trilogy and find out solutions appropriate to empower women. The findings suggest that Chinese women’s low social status was mainly due to unequal social class and the patriarchy. Education enabled women to have professional work and consciously seek the equality of social status with men and freedom. Right education empowers women, and the civilization co-exists with gender equality in economic and cultural dimensions.