闺闱之外:清代传统女性的谋生经营

Women's livelihood in the Qing Dynasty

传统女性常常被描述为仰人衣食者,官修史志的记载则显示她们在农业、手工业、商业等方面均有积极参与和明显贡献,部分女性不仅自食其力甚至成为家庭中的经济支柱。流行于民间的弹词文本内容、女弹词和弹词女作家的生计营求更是生动展示了传统社会对女性的定位及广大社会中下层女性的真实生存状态。谋生经营对清代传统女性个人生活具有重大意义和价值,它使女性能够自食其力,应对家庭变故;立足于家庭,生存于社会;为女性提供了更多选择的可能性。

The official historical records in the Qing Dynasty demonstrated that women were actively involved in agriculture,handicrafts and commerce though the stereotype was that they were not breadwinners. Actually some women were self-reliant and even the major breadwinner,which was evidenced by popular Tanci songs,woman Tanci singers and writers at that time. The ability to support themselves mattered greatly to the Qing women because it enabled them to rise up to the challenges of domestic misfortunes,get socialized and have more options in life.