The women Xinran heard from had so many differing experiences, but they all shared the common theme of being oppressed, of having no say in their own lives, and of suffering throughout so much of their lives. What Xinran has done is given a voice to so many women who were unable to use their own voices to tell their stories. The Good Women of China is truly a remarkable book. Her book will reveal the lives of Chinese women to the West as never before. Their stories changed Xinran’s understanding of China forever. But they also talk about love - about how, despite cruelty, despite politics, the urge to nurture and cherish remains. Whether they are the privileged wives of party leaders or peasants in a forgotten corner of the countryside, they tell of almost inconceivable suffering: forced marriages, sexual abuse, separation of parents from their children, extreme poverty.

Through the vivid intimacy of her writing, these women confide in the reader, sharing their deepest secrets. This unforgettable book is the story of how Xinran negotiated the minefield of restrictions imposed on Chinese journalists to reach out to women across the country. Xinran won their trust and, through her compassion and ability to listen, became the first woman to hear their true stories.

Centuries of obedience to their fathers, husbands and sons, followed by years of fear under Communism, had made women terrified of talking openly about their feelings. Broadcast every evening, Words on the Night Breeze became famous throughout the country for its unflinching portrayal of what it meant to be a woman in modern China. Her book will reveal the lives of Chinese women to the West as never before.Title: The Good Women of China: Hidden Voicesįor eight groundbreaking years, Xinran hosted a radio program in China during which she invited women to call in and talk about themselves. Their stories changed Xinran's understanding of China forever. Through the vivid intimacy of her writing, the women's voices confide in the reader, sharing their deepest secrets for the first time. Centuries of obedience to their fathers, husbands and sons, followed by years of political turmoil had made women terrified of talking openly about their feelings. Broadcast every evening, Words on the Night Breeze became famous through the country for its unflinching portrayal of what it meant to be a woman in modern China. For eight groundbreaking years, Xinran presented a radio programme in China during which she invited women to call in and talk about themselves.

The good women of china by xinran