CWU Wraps Up Sixth Training Session on Women's Oral History

China Women and Gender Library (CWGL) in China Women's University (CWU) held the 6th training session on women's oral history from December 5 to 6. 

Liu Meng, Vice-President of CWU, Han Henan, CWU's Chief Librarian and Li Hongtao, chief expert from CWGL, were invited to participate in the event, along with some 60 other teachers, postgraduates and researchers from 9 provinces and municipalities.

Combined with her own working experiences and thoughts, 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, Li emphasized the importance of social gender consciousness and interviewees determination.

With regard to their different topics, Chen He, an expert from Peking University, introduced the government's policies in dealing with an aging population. Ru Xiaomei, an official from the National Health and Family Planning Commission, shared her understanding on women's oral history and laid out its historical background, national policies and typical examples.

Shao Juan, a sub-librarian of the CWGL, said that the development of women's oral history not only saved precious historical materials, but also highlighted women's impact on social change. She also laid out issues that researchers need to be aware of and explained how to solve difficulties and overcome limits while interviewing female groups.

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

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, relevant leaders said.

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