Chinese lion dance troupe shrugs off patriarchal past

Women in southern China are being trained in lion dancing, a tradition that has long excluded them due to physical demands and patriarchal attitudes.

The lion dance, a popular part of Lunar New Year celebrations, is typically performed by men, but one troupe is working to revitalize the practice by including female dancers. While some older practitioners hold traditional views about women’s roles, younger generations are pushing for gender equality, believing women are just as capable as men in performing the dance.