The Ethics Of The Other And The Gender Relations In The Northern Rural Society

The paper conducts field research in Dong Village,located in the northern region of Shandong,using Emmanuel Levinas’ s ethics of "the Other" as its theoretical tool.It attempts to scrutinize the subtle changes and development of the social gender order in the village from an ethical perspective transcending existence.Through the investigation and analysis of the daily manifestations of gender order and gender relationships in Dong Village,it can be observed that the gender order in the village is transitioning from tradition to a new structure,and gender relationships are taking on new forms as time progresses.This change indicates that gender relations in rural societies are becoming more respectful of heterogeneity,acknowledging the Other,and pursuing pure love.The introduction section briefly introduces the reasons and significance for the selection of this topic,the research subject and methods,and a summary of the research,and also interprets the controversy between feminism and Levinas,explaining the connotation and significance of the ’Other’ in Levinas’ s theory.By providing a simple introduction to feminism and Levinas’ s ethics of the ’Other’,it emphasizes the limitations of viewing gender issues from the perspective of existential meaning.Through Levinas,gender issues can achieve a breakthrough in the transcendent sense,and ethical responsibility and love can provide a peaceful solution to gender issues.Chapter One introduces the geographical conditions and lifestyle of Dong Village,as well as the clan culture and customary beliefs that have a significant impact on the village.The chapter ends with a data analysis briefly describing the population of Dong Village,aiming to explain the historical and cultural reasons for the formation of the gender order through an overview of the village’s conditions.Chapter Two mainly elaborates on the daily life and customs of villagers under the traditional gender ethical order,and points out the basic forms and contradictions of gender relations in traditional culture.The traditional gender order is a product that conforms to social development.Women,as marginalized ’Others’,are essential for consolidating and stabilizing the normal functioning of society.With the development of rural society,gender patterns are also undergoing dynamic and slow changes.Chapter Three,through observations and interviews about the daily lives of specific individuals in rural areas,explores the true ethical relationships between genders from the perspective of the ethics of the Other,employing the phenomenology of desire.The survey found that modern gender relations have formed expressions different from traditional ones,developing continuously in a form that respects heterogeneity and pursues love.People are no longer bound by the shackles of traditional gender roles,achieving growth and breakthroughs.Based on the elucidation of gender relations in the preceding text,Chapter Four extends to the analysis of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships and parent-child relationships within the family.It is also emphasized in the analysis of interactions and upbringing with children that one should recognize the inherent separation between subjects,respect the exteriority of children as Others,and avoid instructing in a dominant manner.