Observing the Influence of Colonialism on Modern China through Lady’s School Uniforms by Jiamin Huang

Anger towards the colonizers and passion for patriotism gave women the courage to break through the segregati and demonstrate with male students in the May Fourth Movement, 1919

xiaolana11 — 2023-12-09 05:43:54 UTC

Explanation: From this picture, we can see female students wearing Civilized New Look and standing out the gate of Peking University of Arts and Sciences for Women. Before the May Fourth Movement, as the result of devaluation of women of Confucianism, male and female students were strictly segregated in universities. Anger towards the colonizers and passion for patriotism gave women the courage to march and demonstrate with male students in the May Fourth Movement, 1919. The May Fourth Movement promoted women’s quest for equal educational rights, and in 1920, Peking University started coeducation.

Aristocratic uniforms of early parochial schools

xiaolana11 — 2023-12-09 05:45:32 UTC

Explanation: The parochial school begins letting women from well-off families who were open to Western civilization have access to modern education. The early stage of ladies' school uniforms in the Mainland were an exquisite blend of Chinese and Western styles. Left: Writer, and architect, Phyllis Whei Yin Lin wearing a delicate Chinese top with brooch and jewelry and a western skirt, represents Beijing Pei Hua Anglo-Chinese School for Girls(parochial).

Students from Women’s Higher Normal School protest against imperialist colonialism

xiaolana11 — 2023-12-09 05:53:29 UTC

Explanation: The image depicts students from Beijing Women’s Higher Normal School participating in a demonstration. On May 7, 1919, these students established the Beijing Women’s Academic Federation, focusing on social service and patriotic spirit. In early June, students from Beijing Women’s Higher Normal School actively joined parades, displaying banners with anti-Japanese and anti-traitor slogans, voicing their demands for patriotism, political emancipation, and women’s involvement in political discussions. This marked a significant moment in the Chinese women’s anti-imperialist and patriotic movement.

Qipao reflects the hybridity of modern Western aesthetics in Chinese style items of clothing

xiaolana11 — 2023-12-09 06:16:37 UTC

Explanation: This picture shows the high school class of Shanghai St. Mary’s Girls’ High School, with the students in their Qipao uniforms. Beginning in the 1920s, female students who were the youngest and most fashionable and progressive segment of society in Shanghai were the first to wear the modified Qipao. Qipao reflects the hybridity of modern Western aesthetics in Chinese style items of clothing and the demands in pursuit of equal social status for women.

Typical Po Leung Kuk-style school uniforms

xiaolana11 — 2023-12-09 14:09:09 UTC

Explanation: Typical Po Leung Kuk-style school uniforms were worn by girls. Although the picture shows that the number of male students is much higher than that of female students, PLA's policy of lowering tuition fees to promote greater access to education for females has still resulted in gains for some girls.

St Paul’s Co-educational College, Qipao as Uniforms

xiaolana11 — 2023-12-09 14:13:59 UTC

Explanation: The Qipao has a historic meaning as it was the first school uniform to be introduced in Hong Kong. Uniforms didn’t appear in Hong Kong schools until 1918, when St Paul’s Co-educational College, introduced its two-piece Qipao set featuring white plain tops with matching pants or skirts. The wide sleeves and loose-fitting bottoms were prominent in women’s clothing during the early years of the Republic of China.

Development of Hong Kong Style Qipao

xiaolana11 — 2023-12-09 14:15:38 UTC

Explanation: The Qipao, which appeared in Hong Kong as a uniform for schoolgirls, was colored in different shades of blue, and differed from those of the same period in mainland China, both in terms of fabric and style. On the one hand, the designers took into account the climatic differences, and on the other hand, due to the deeper influence of European culture, traditional Chinese elements were less reflected in these Hong Kong school uniforms.

School uniform，Cheongsam(长衫)，worn by Dr. Sun Yat-sen

himaaawari0824 — 2023-12-10 04:24:13 UTC

Men not doing physical labor wore trousers and Cheongsam(长衫), a long top that opens up at the waist and reaches the ankles. Qipao transforms the women’s two-part suit into a single, long “one-piece” expressing the demands of equal social status and equal rights in education by minimizing the differences with men in clothing.

（Photo taken in Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum）

Taiwan lady’s school uniforms during the 1910s

xiaolana11 — 2023-12-10 10:50:51 UTC

Explanation:This photo showed the lady’s school uniform for the Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School during the 1910s. What they wore on the top was an andon bakama, and what they wore on the bottom was a traditional style’s cross-bodice placket shirt. The hybridization of Chinese and Japanese clothing styles was one of the characteristics of Taiwan's clothing style at that time.

Taiwan female’s students in the home economics course

xiaolana11 — 2023-12-10 10:53:28 UTC

Explanation:This photo showed female students in Taiwan having home economics courses. Sewing is one of the common course contents. At that time, training females to be good housewives was also one of the goals of education.