Survivors, victims and soldiers as figures of nationalism: Representations of women in the War of Resistance against Japan museums in mainland China

The gendered memorializing of the War Resistance against Japan (1931–45) has been an important part China’s war memory politics in all different phases it undergone since 1945. In Mao era, iconography ‘Anti-Japanese female revolutionary martyrdoms’ rose to prominence, while following reformation period consolidated a she-victim/he-hero dichotomy most forcefully characterized by visualization Nanjing Massacre through violated bodies symbolizing nation’s victimhood. This article argues that Xi Jinping women’s roles museums have begun transform again. Coming from viewpoint feminist critique, approaches five prominent mainland China with gender as its main analytical category, studying representations memorial spaces and exhibitions. It suggests current trends introduced role survivor sexual violence soldier into museal landscape, slightly complicating previous repertoires war’s musealization. By exploring Chinese sociocultural themes ‘chastity martyrdom’ ‘female warriors’ multi-layered so-called ‘comfort women’ discusses extent which strategies used portray women serve patriarchal nationalism rather than interests.