China city closes class preaching 'woman virtues'

GUANGZHOU - "If you are hit, don't hit back; If you are scolded, don't yell back," a southern Chinese institute has come under public criticism for teaching what the school calls "female virtues." Now, authorities have given the class a final goodbye.

The Dongguan City in Guangdong Province has ordered the "female virtue class" to close after reports said the training class preached being obedient wives under the guise of traditional Chinese cultures.

Investigators said the class ran against social morals and sought profit under the disguise of charity. The Mengzheng Traditional Chinese Study School, which operates the class, was also not licensed for running educational programs, the publicity department of Dongguan government told Xinhua Friday.

The school operated 12 such classes a year, each recruiting about 50 members. Its lecturers cited Confucius works and other ancient Chinese classics to support its ideas such as "grin and bear it" and "never divorce." Southern Weekly newspaper reported one lecturer claimed that a woman should cut off her womb and breasts if she wishes to be an iron woman.

Reports earlier this month have triggered huge controversy on the Internet, with many comments accusing it of tarnishing traditional Chinese culture and showing blatant male chauvinism.

"I wonder if there is a 'male virtue class'," a microblogger commented.