Review on Gender, Health and History in Modern East Asia
Dr. Harry Wu reviews Gender, Health and History in Modern East Asia (Leung & Nakayama, 2017) for Hong Kong Review of Books.
This book covers nine case studies that confirm or challenge historiographical and sociological representations about the relationship of gender and health. Readers will be intrigued by neglected stories buried in history regarding how, in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China, gender categories shaped the production and practice of health knowledge, and how emerging problems of modernity in these societies impacted the clichéd gender roles from the second half of nineteenth century to the present day. For the general readership, this book may be challenging because of its range and manifold concerns. However, the complex material is rewarding as it goes beyond general assumptions of gender categories and their implications on health sciences in East Asia.
