ABSTRACT
Confucian Revivalism Women elitist radicals greeted the birth of the Republic of 1911 with high hopes. With euphoric optimism they believed that the overthrow of the dynasty would purge the country of corruption, remedy weakness and inaugurate a new era of social justice, national strength and individual freedom. Collectively, they had the sweet dream of men and women as equals. They followed the precedent established by Western women and asked for the right to vote. In their view this was the political foundation of gender equality. Women's groups, originally formed for military and relief activities, now reorganised to demand political suffrage.
