Behind the Red Door: Exploring Intimacy and Relationships in Modern China - A Cultural Perspective on Love & Sexuality for Adult Readers" (Perfect for cultural studies, relationship counseling, and understanding Chinese social dynamics)

People are curious about sex, and people are curious about China. So why has it taken so long for there to be a book about sex in China? I'm not sure, but with the publication of "Behind the Red Door: Sex in China" Richard Burger has filled an obvious need in the literature. Of course there have been other books on the topic. But most of them, to judge from the bibliography, have come from the academic arena, with the usual narrow focus and undoubtedly inscrutable prose. "Behind the Red Door," by contrast, is a broad overview of the issue of sexuality in China aimed at the general reader that at the same time serves as an excellent introduction to modern China itself.The first chapter, "Sex in Imperial China," discusses the philosophical and the historical context for sexuality. It is a story of contrasts in both arenas. Confucius seems at best indifferent to sexuality while Daoism celebrates it. Sexual liberalism was the order of the day in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907); repressive orthodoxy under the Qing (1644 - 1912). Chapter 2,"Dating and Marriage," details a landscape in both of these arenas that the reader will find is decidedly different than the Western perspective and one that invariably provides insight into the culture as a whole, while Chapter 3, entitled "The Sex Trade" delves into some of the darker side of sex in China, including a delightfully informative listing of the seven tiers of sexual workers and the obsession of Chinese men with female virginity. It may seem odd to have a chapter devoted to family in a book whose title I take it is at least partly an homage to porn star Marilyn Chambers. But in China, one can understand nothing about the country, much less something as complex as sexuality, without examining the conception of the family that has been at the heart of the nation relatively unchanged since Confucius. The shifting fortunes of China's homosexual population are the theme of Chapter 5. It is a mixed bag. Although they are no longer actively prosecuted nor is there widespread cultural acceptance. Instead, one confronts the tragic phenomenon of the tonqi, the homosexual forced into a heterosexual marriage for the sake of appearances. Chapter 6 details another tragedy in China, sex education or the sad lack thereof. The penultimate chapter, China's Shifting Sexual Landscape," leads off with the saga of Muzimei, the 25-year-old woman whose Left-over Love Letters blog scandalized China with its frank description of female promiscuity. In "Parting Thoughts," the author leaves us on an optimistic note, expressing confidence that China will "overcome past prejudices and recognize sexual freedom as a fundamental human right." One should perhaps not be too optimistic, however. It is worth considering at the end of this entertaining, informative and thought-provoking book an issue raised in the Introduction, where China scholar Elaine Jeffreys is sited as noting that there is nothing inherently liberating about increasing sexual freedom and that "the recent proliferation of sex-related discourse in the PRC constitutes perhaps an extension rather than a curtailment of the CCP's disciplinary power."This book will give you both plenty to think about as well as a lot of interesting conversation starters for your next cocktail party. Highly recommended for the general reader with an interest in the specific topic or one seeking an introduction to Chinese culture, history and contemporary affairs from a unique perspective.