@article{ART003369485},
author={Yin, Weiwei},
title={Unfulfilled Subjectivity: The Paradoxical Mechanisms in the Construction of Female Subjectivity in Yu Hua’s New-Century Novels—Focusing on Lin Hong, Li Qing, Shumei, and Ji Xiaomei},
journal={Journal of Chinese Language and Literature},
issn={1225-083X},
year={2026},
number={102},
pages={155-178},
doi={10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.155}
TY - JOUR
AU - Yin, Weiwei
TI - Unfulfilled Subjectivity: The Paradoxical Mechanisms in the Construction of Female Subjectivity in Yu Hua’s New-Century Novels—Focusing on Lin Hong, Li Qing, Shumei, and Ji Xiaomei
JO - Journal of Chinese Language and Literature
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 102
PB - Chinese Literary Society Of Yeong Nam
SP - 155
EP - 178
SN - 1225-083X
AB - This paper examines female subjectivity in Yu Hua’s New Century novels Brothers, The Seventh Day, and Wencheng, focusing on Lin Hong, Li Qing, Shu Mei, and Ji Xiaomei. Drawing on feminist theories of subjectivity and Foucault’s theory of power, it explores how female subjectivity is formed, practiced, and continually reshaped within specific social relations. Lin Hong establishes a subject position through marital choice, labor, and family practice, but marketization gradually transforms her values, bodily experience, and desires. Li Qing expands her sphere of action through work, marriage, and career, yet increasingly enters complex networks of gender and power. Shu Mei’s limited social resources compress her subjective practice into labor, the body, and intimate relationships. Ji Xiaomei moves from emotional self-awareness to autonomous action, while her choices generate conflicting ethical responsibilities involving love, marriage, and motherhood.
These trajectories show that female subjectivity does not develop linearly from awakening to completion. Rather, subjective practice both opens new possibilities for action and places women within new structures of capital, class, gender, ethics, and discourse. “Unfinished subjectivity” therefore refers not to failure or disappearance, but to the impossibility of reaching a final, self-contained, and stable position outside social relations.
KW - 余华(Yu Hua);新世纪小说(New Century Novels);女性主体性(Female Subjectivity);主体实践(Subjective Practice);悖论机制(Paradoxical Mechanism)
DO - 10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.155
ER -
Yin, Weiwei. (2026). Unfulfilled Subjectivity: The Paradoxical Mechanisms in the Construction of Female Subjectivity in Yu Hua’s New-Century Novels—Focusing on Lin Hong, Li Qing, Shumei, and Ji Xiaomei. Journal of Chinese Language and Literature, 102, 155-178.
Yin, Weiwei. 2026, "Unfulfilled Subjectivity: The Paradoxical Mechanisms in the Construction of Female Subjectivity in Yu Hua’s New-Century Novels—Focusing on Lin Hong, Li Qing, Shumei, and Ji Xiaomei", Journal of Chinese Language and Literature, no.102, pp.155-178. Available from: doi:10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.155
Yin, Weiwei "Unfulfilled Subjectivity: The Paradoxical Mechanisms in the Construction of Female Subjectivity in Yu Hua’s New-Century Novels—Focusing on Lin Hong, Li Qing, Shumei, and Ji Xiaomei" Journal of Chinese Language and Literature 102 pp.155-178 (2026) : 155.
Yin, Weiwei. Unfulfilled Subjectivity: The Paradoxical Mechanisms in the Construction of Female Subjectivity in Yu Hua’s New-Century Novels—Focusing on Lin Hong, Li Qing, Shumei, and Ji Xiaomei. 2026; 102 : 155-178. Available from: doi:10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.155
Yin, Weiwei. "Unfulfilled Subjectivity: The Paradoxical Mechanisms in the Construction of Female Subjectivity in Yu Hua’s New-Century Novels—Focusing on Lin Hong, Li Qing, Shumei, and Ji Xiaomei" Journal of Chinese Language and Literature no.102(2026) : 155-178.doi: 10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.155
Yin, Weiwei. Unfulfilled Subjectivity: The Paradoxical Mechanisms in the Construction of Female Subjectivity in Yu Hua’s New-Century Novels—Focusing on Lin Hong, Li Qing, Shumei, and Ji Xiaomei. Journal of Chinese Language and Literature, 102, 155-178. doi: 10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.155
Yin, Weiwei. Unfulfilled Subjectivity: The Paradoxical Mechanisms in the Construction of Female Subjectivity in Yu Hua’s New-Century Novels—Focusing on Lin Hong, Li Qing, Shumei, and Ji Xiaomei. Journal of Chinese Language and Literature. 2026; 102 155-178. doi: 10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.155
Yin, Weiwei. Unfulfilled Subjectivity: The Paradoxical Mechanisms in the Construction of Female Subjectivity in Yu Hua’s New-Century Novels—Focusing on Lin Hong, Li Qing, Shumei, and Ji Xiaomei. 2026; 102 : 155-178. Available from: doi:10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.155
Yin, Weiwei. "Unfulfilled Subjectivity: The Paradoxical Mechanisms in the Construction of Female Subjectivity in Yu Hua’s New-Century Novels—Focusing on Lin Hong, Li Qing, Shumei, and Ji Xiaomei" Journal of Chinese Language and Literature no.102(2026) : 155-178.doi: 10.15792/clsyn..102.202608.155
