CWU Wraps Up 5th Training Session on Oral History

China Women & Gender Library in China Women's University (CWU) held the 5th training session on oral history from May 11 to 13. Liu Meng, vice-president of CWU; Ding Yizhuang, researcher from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Han Henan, CWU's Chief Librarian; Li Hongtao, chief expert from the China Women & Gender Library; Zhang Jun, chief correspondent of Cui Yongyuan Oral History Institute at the Communication University of China; and, photographer Nie Mingming were invited to participate in the event, along with some other 60 teachers, students, and researchers.

The meeting was divided into two parts, on background knowledge introduction and the skills of oral history. With regard to their different topics, Ding, Han, and Li respectively introduced the historical background, national policies, typical examples, and the importance of orientation and interviewees determination. They laid out issues that researchers need to be aware of, and explained how to solve difficulties and overcome limits while interviewing female groups.

Combined with her own working experiences and feelings, Liu passed on her skills and answered the questions "What is an interview?" , "How should someone prepare for oral history?" , and "What are the issues interviewers need to be aware of?"With rich practical experiences, Zhang and Nie taught participants the procedures, main points, skills, and basics of video production.

The participants thanked organizers for the gathering, and said that they learned the technology and method of data analysis, and accumulated rich experiences. They also promised to combine their profession with research on women's oral history, and make efforts to promote the development of women's oral history.

In order to enlarge and enrich the library's collections, the specialist library will collect all kinds of literature and materials concerning women and social gender studies, especially materials on women's oral history. The library will adopt the strategy of the project, regularly recruit interviews, and continuously follow up in the collection and classification work of women's oral history materials.

(Source: China Women's University/Translated and edited by Gender Study Network)