Eugenics, Nationalism, and Elitism in the Gender Roles of Republican China: Pan Guangdan’s “New Ways to Teach Women to Be Mothers”

Pan Guangdan (1898–1967), the Chinese sociologist who is credited with the introduction of eugenics to China, spoke out on various topics during his time. This study explores his writings on gender roles, education reform, and new motherhood in relation to eugenics. Pan sought to apply eugenics to promoting motherhood based on his conviction that the production of wealth and culture was the duty of men and human reproduction was the duty of women, albeit the women of his time did not all live up to his ideal. Pan initiated the movement of “Teaching Mother’s to Nurture their Children” in the 1930s-40s to advocate that all women become mothers who raise and educate their children single-handedly without the help of nannies, wet nurses, maids, or nurseries. Pan suggested state regulated, mandatory classes on parenting in high schools and colleges for all women. He believed that schools should have genderized courses that prepare women for motherhood. Although writing extensively on the responsibility of mothers, Pan puts less onto the shoulders of fathers.  Through analysis of his writings on eugenics, nationality, and gender roles, Pan's attempt to redefine women's role as mothers kept within household is examined and evaluated.  I argue that Pan's efforts to introduce eugenics into China was shaped by his nationalistic and masculine elitist undertone. In Pan's vision, the ostensibly scientific and progressive ideas of eugenics paradoxically justified a conservative agenda that confines women in the household with their children; and Pan's premises of Social Darwinism and nationalism required the sacrifice of women for the good of the nation. This study will rethink the critical nexus of eugenics, gender role, nationalism, and Chinese masculine elitism in the Republican era.