Abstract

An analysis of recessive and dominant patriarchies is critical to the understanding of Chinese women’s issues in Yu Li’s film Dam Street. Recessive patriarchy is a subtle form of male dominance; dominant patriarchy embodies the simple and direct form. Both traditional and new elements could be traced in the two types of characters. An investigation into the characters’ development is done through reading the scenes of the film in the Chinese cultural frames. The finding is that the nature of the two patriarchies is physical and psychological control and harm.

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