In traditional China the concept of the family has defined the lives of women. The specific and hierarchical roles of wife, mother, and daughter ensure the continuation of the family, however, these roles are accompanied by a set of behavioral values that have become the orthodox standard for the ideal woman in both a practical and a moral sense. Women who are not primarily involved in a family structure are considered lacking in the attributes that define a virtuous woman. They are "outside" and illegitimate members of society which stresses relationships based in the family. The relationship between the "inside" family women with the "outside" women who are perceived of as threats to the order and stability of the family and society is addressed here.

Two popular Ming and Qing period novels, Jin Ping Mei and Honglou Meng, directly and implicitly present issues created within corrupt families and societies which maintain orthodox expectations of women.