Ma Huidi

[Copyright 1998 Ma Huidi.]

I was born in Changchun City, in the Northeast region of China. Here were built the first movie studio and first automobile factory of New China. Since there are many sciences institutes and universities in Changchun City, it has been named the "Cultural City" of China.

My father was a businessman. My mother was a strong woman. Together they raised seven children with kindness, morality, justice, and gentleness. My parents continue to have a great influence upon me and made a deep foundation for my life. I will remember my father forever.

After I was eleven years old, I went to live with my aunt, who was an artist. Her husband was a famous actor and loved to read. Together they loved me and encouraged me to learn. I remember that we often talked about the world, and in general I grew up in a very nurturing and cultured atmosphere.

When I was sixteen years old, the Chinese "Cultural Revolution" began and lasted from 1966 to 1976. Like all young people, I was prohibited from going to school. At that time slogans like "reading is useless" and "intellecutal arts harm society" were popular. However, I used my free time to stealthily read a large variety of books that my family had hidden away. During two years of the Cultural Revolution, I lived as a farmer in a small, poor village and was surprised to find the conditions of the farmers there so wretched. Then for six years, I worked in a large factory. Together, many of us workers studied Chairman Mao's philosophy, and I began to comprehend the social events taking place around me.

After the Cultural Revolution, I went to Beijing, which is a great city for its culture. I became involved with the Chinese Society for Dialectics of Nature, which has an especially cultural environment not only because of its openness and active communication, but also because of the many scientists and philosophers -- such as Yu Guangyuan, Qian Sanqiang, Zhou Peiyuan, and Qian Xuesen -- who are members there. I learned as much as I could from them and then left to pursue a master's degree at the Department of Science Management in the Graduate School of the China Academy of Sciences.

Since receiving my MS in 1992, I have taken part in many programs concerning the relation between science, technology, and society, and have written many papers about science, culture, and education. In 1997 I was very happy to be named in two directories: the Lexicographical Work of International Famous People, published by Hong Kong Press, and the "Culture" volume of the World Culture and Arts Research Center.

Since 1995, I've been researching leisure culture with Yu Guangyuan, who is one of the most famous economists and philosophers in contemporary China. Together we have published several papers, and now I have been named Chief Editor and Director of Studies in Dialectics of Nature, which is one of the most prestigious philosophy journals in Chinese academic circles.

Western feminism came into contact with China in the late 1980s, and because it is so recent, its impact has been very limited in scope. I read Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex, which I have studied very carefully, along with the many books on women's studies which I keep close at hand. However, feminism is limited to philosophy and literature in China. It is not widespread like in America, but I believe it is very important to study. I think the reasons for this are: (a) intellectual duty; (b) the humanism background of feminism is a very important part of my personal knowledge structure; and (c) women's liberation plays a part in people progressing and in societies developing throughout the world. The nature of feminism is that it awakens people to women's intrinsic value.

Early in 1992, during the Fourth World Women's Conference in Beijing, a reporter from the Chinese Xinhua News Agency interviewed me about being a feminist. At that time, I said that I did not like some of the projects of "early feminism," because I would like to construct and understand a new idea of society, in which women and men together are equal and in harmony. This would be my future goal. It is very important for women today to rebuild their social image, in order to change their current unwholesome ways of living. This can be done by promoting education, independent personalities, ingenuity of social commonweal, and self-examination. However, most women of the world have little or no satisfaction in their lives. Many people have never had a sense of independence, especially in China.

JOURNAL EDITOR

Studies in Dialectics of Nature (in Chinese). Won the top prizes for three years in a row, awarded by the Chinese State Publishing Ministry

EDITED BOOKS

Edited a series of books on the Study of Educational Theory, published by He Nan Educational Press, 1992.

The Corpus of the Forum of Sciences and Culture. Chinese Association of Science and Technology, 1988.

ARTICLES

"Chinese Women and Leisure," delivered at the 8th Symposium of the International Association of Women in Philosophy (USA), 1998.

"On a Theory of Leisure in the Field of Spiritual Culture," Qi Ju Learn Journal No. 2 (1998), and delivered at the 20th World Conference of Philosophy (USA), 1998.

"On the Studies in Characteristics and Trends Abroad: Science Policy," Future and Development No. 6 (1997).

"On Comparing the National Scientific Management 'Planning Model' with China, America, Japan, and South Korea," Studies in the Science of Science No. 1 (1997).

"Leisure: Construct a Happy Home of Spirit for Human Beings," The Digest of Xinhua No. 12 (1996).

"Discussion on Management of the Emotional Culture," Future and Development No. 4 (1996).

"On the Future Trend of Chinese Philosophy," Studies in the Dialectics of Nature No. 12 (1996).

"The 'Planning Model' of National Scientific Macro-Management," Journal of Dialectics of Nature No. 4 (1995).

"Theoretical Thought on China's First Program for Science and Technology," Studies in Dialectics of Nature No. 6 (1996).

"The Artistic Element in Management and Policy Decisions," Future and Development No. 5 (1990).

Since 1987, Ma Huidi has been very active in Chinese academic and intellectual programs and projects. Here is some of her work:

1987: took part in a major research program, "Agriculture and Society," organized by The Ministry of Agriculture and the Chinese Association for Science and Technology

1987-1990: took part in the research section of the Chinese Communication Development Strategy and Countermeasure

1987-1988: organized a program for the Forum for Science and Culture

1992 and 1995: became Chair of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology's first and second Academic Annual Meeting of Young Scientists

1993-1996: joined the research team of the Theory of Town and Township Enterprise

1995: organized the 50th Xiang Shan Meeting of the Chinese Academy of Science

1995-1996: worked on the project, "Science and Technology and China at the Turn of the Century," which received five years of support from the Science Society

1996: took part in the First Forum of Young Chinese Scientists

1996: attended the Second International Conference on Management Science and the Economic Development of China, in Hong Kong

1996-1997: took part in making China's first Science Policy, with the State Committee of Science and Technology

1998: presented papers at the 20th World Congress of Philosophy and the 8th Symposium of the International Association of Women in Philosophy, in Boston (USA); visited New York University, Cornell University, and Penn State University.