Blog 9: A Daughter of Han / Ning Lao T'AI-T'AI

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Blog 9:  A Daughter of Han / Ning Lao T'AI-T'AI


This story A Daughter of Han is an autobiography of a Chinese Working Woman based on stories from Ning Lao told to Ida Pruitt.  She tells the stories of how she was known as a beggar, as she was extremely poor, trying to beg for anything just to get by. She said she went every day to get hot gruel for her one meal when she finds out from someone that her husband said that he wants to sell their child and that his wife had died. This was very alarming and shocking to read about because of the lengths people living in poverty had to go to in order to beg at this time and place. It was devastating that her husband sold her child without her knowing one day and she had to physically fight eventually, the neighbors came and they all began to search the city to get her child back. This part of the story was very sad to read about the desperation she was in and how she was put in distress because of her missing child. Not only does she have the stress of living in poverty, but she has to deal with her ignorant husband who is addicted to opium and does not provide for the family. Her marriage is not healthy and I think she should have never been with her husband due to his actions and the fact he would sell their child.  It was also sad to read that it took her so long to leave her awful husband, even with the convincing of her neighbors. It was good she said, "I taught my daughter Mantze to run at the sight of him and to hide." (635). She cared about the safety of her daughter and then mentions how she had to come out and that women in her family have never done so before. I think by this she means to stand up for themselves and put an end to their begging and poverty and have the courage to not live in her toxic home. 

Comments

  1. Delaney AshworthJanuary 30, 2023 at 8:06 AM

    She lived through such a struggle beginning at such a young age, especially with the begging factor. She wasn't able to learn her worth for a long time. I cannot imagine my own husband selling our child who we love so much just to get by. That is heartbreaking and took unimaginable strength to endure. Her daughter ultimately helped her and her trauma is immense. I love that your post targeted this specific issue because I believe it shaped her life ini more ways than we can imagine.

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