重男轻女

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: zhòng nán qīng nǚ
• English Translation: Valuing men and belittling women (preference for sons over daughters)
• Idiom Composition: 「重」（To value, to prioritize, or to regard as important）＋「男」（Male, man, or son）＋「轻」（To belittle, to slight, or to treat as unimportant）＋「女」（Female, woman, or daughter）
• Meaning: A traditional mindset or social practice of prioritizing males (especially sons) while devaluing or neglecting females (especially daughters). In modern society, it is used critically to describe gender discrimination and outdated patriarchal values.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「重男轻女」 contains the following nuances:

• Preference Within the Family: Beyond general social status, this term most frequently appears in the context of family dynamics, such as prioritizing a son's education or inheritance over a daughter's.
• Critical Nuance: In modern Chinese, 重男轻女 (zhòng nán qīng nǚ) is a derogatory term. It is used to criticize backward, feudal, or unfair thinking rather than to describe a neutral preference.

3. Usage

「重男轻女」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Family and Relative Values: Used when parents or grandparents favor sons, expect a male heir to carry the family name, or provide better resources to male children.
  • Example:「虽然现在已经是新时代了，但他父母重男轻女的思想依然很严重。」
    （Even though it is a new era, his parents' preference for sons over daughters is still very serious.）
• Workplace and Social Issues: Used to point out systemic gender discrimination, such as when men are favored in hiring, promotions, or social status.
  • Example:「这家公司在招聘时存在明显的重男轻女现象。」
    （This company has a clear bias in favor of men during recruitment.）

Additional Examples:

1. 她从小生长在一个重男轻女的家庭，受了很多委屈。
   （She grew up in a family that favored boys over girls, and she suffered many grievances because of it.）
2. 我们要摒弃重男轻女的陈旧观念，提倡男女平等。
   （We must discard the outdated notion of valuing men over women and promote gender equality.）
3. 有些农村地区仍然保留着重男轻女的习俗。
   （Some rural areas still retain the custom of preferring sons over daughters.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Historical Background: In traditional Chinese patriarchal society, sons were essential for carrying on the family lineage and providing labor. This led to the cultural ideal of 多子多福 (duō zǐ duō fú), or 'more children (specifically sons) bring more blessings.'
• Modern Context: While the 'One-Child Policy' (计划生育 - jì huà shēng yù) and urbanization have significantly shifted mindsets, these values can still be found in some rural areas or among older generations. This conflict is a frequent theme in modern Chinese TV dramas and literature.
• Linguistic Note: While the term 重女轻男 (zhòng nǚ qīng nán) — favoring daughters over sons — is not a standard idiom, it is sometimes used jokingly today to describe parents who dote excessively on their daughters.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 男尊女卑 (nán zūn nǚ bēi): Respecting men and demeaning women; a feudal ideology regarding men as superior.
  • 传宗接代 (chuán zōng jiē dài): To carry on the ancestral line and produce an heir (usually male).
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 男女平等 (nán nǚ píng děng): Gender equality; equality between men and women in rights and status.
  • 平起平坐 (píng qǐ píng zuò): To be on an equal footing with someone.link
  • 相提并论 (xiāng tí bìng lùn): To mention or discuss two or more things at the same level or in the same breath.link

6. Summary

重男轻女 (zhòng nán qīng nǚ) refers to the historical and cultural bias of favoring sons over daughters. While rooted in ancient patriarchal structures, it is now primarily used in a critical context to point out gender inequality within families or society. Understanding this term is essential for grasping social dynamics and historical gender roles in Chinese culture.