A Study on the Image Change of Working Women in Chinese Realist Films after The Period of Reform and Opening-up

Abstract

After the reform and opening up, China ushered in a vigorous period of the development of realistic films, and women began to gradually step out of the family. They gradually possessed an independent consciousness and began to pursue their own careers. This study observes the images of working women in Chinese realistic films after the reform and opening-up through observation methods, analyzes the relationship between the cinematic portrayal of working women and the historical background, and interprets the reasons behind the changes in the portrayal of women. Additionally, it puts forward expectations for the portrayal of working women in future Chinese realistic films. This study found that, driven by both social and individual factors, the image of working women has become more complex and diversified over the past 50 years. They have gradually voiced the concerns of contemporary women to society, and have contributed to the progress of social attitudes. After the reform and opening-up, the evolution of the image of working women in Chinese realistic films has gradually elevated female values and been endowed with richer cultural connotations in the new era.