Constructing Female Identity in Posters: A Comparative Study of the Soviet Union and China

This thesis attempts to examine the construction of female identity through the medium of propaganda posters, with a comparative analysis of the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China during the height of their socialist periods. Both nations, under Marxist-Leninist ideologies, emphasized the role of women as part of their larger socialist agenda, recognizing that cultural production, including visual art, should serve political purposes. In both countries, posters were used as a key instrument for promoting socialist values and the state’s vision of the ideal female identity. Early Chinese propaganda art was heavily influenced by Soviet Union, reflecting a strong alignment between the two nations in their portrayal of women. This influence is evident in the shared imagery of women as workers in traditionally male-dominated fields and as “New Women” , symbols of progress who embodied both modernity and dedication to the socialist cause. Common depictions also included the heroic mother, who played a pivotal role in both raising the next generation of socialist citizens and contributing to the national workforce. These similarities highlight the interconnection of the two countries' cultural and political narratives during their formative socialist years. However, the representation of women in these two nations also highlights different national narratives and cultural values, shaped by the respective historical contexts of the Soviet Union and China. By studying the typical female figures in the posters, one can analyze how female identities were manipulated and reimagined in the Socialist Realist art promoted by both nations, in order to fully serve the establishment of the new system.