Background

Elisabeth Croll was born on September 21, 1944 in Reefton, Nelson, New Zealand. She was the daughter of Robert Sprackett, a Presbyterian minister, and Joan (White) Sprackett.

Education

In 1965, Elisabeth graduated from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she got Bachelor of Arts degree. Two years later, in 1967, Croll attained Master of Arts degree with honors at the same university.

Elisabeth continued her studies and in 1971 she got Master of Arts degree, graduating from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies. Six years later, in 1977, Croll obtained Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Career

In 1977, Elisabeth was appointed a full-time consultant at the International Labor Office and United Nations Research Institute For Social Development, a post she held till 1981, when Croll started to work as a part-time consultant.

In 1990, Croll was appointed an Anthropology lecturer at the School of Oriental and African Studies, where she rose rapidly to the post of a professor in 1995.

She also carried out an important research, which brought new insights into the role of women and the development of the family in the People's Republic of China.

Works

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  • Feminism and Socialism in China 1988
  • China's New Consumers: Social Development and Domestic Demand 2006
  • Endangered Daughters: Discrimination and Development in Asia 2000
  • Changing Identities of Chinese Women: Rhetoric, Experience and Self-Perception in 20th Century China 1995
  • Family Rice Bowl 1983
  • The Politics of Marriage in Contemporary China 1981

Views

Though Elisabeth Croll was a feminist and sympathised with many of the social aims of the Chinese regime, she always took a more nuanced view of what was happening in China. Thus, while she understood the need to have smaller families and saw the advantages in that for women, she disliked the methods — forced abortion and sterilisation — used by the Chinese government to enforce their one-child policy.

Membership

Elisabeth was a member of the Royal Society of Asian Affairs.

Personality

Croll was a woman of wide interests, proficient in embroidery, knitting and needlework. She enjoyed evenings at the opera and weekends, spent in her seaside caravan on Hayling Island.

Connections

Elisabeth married James Croll, a professor, on December 16, 1966. The couple had two children — Nicolas James and Katherine Elisabeth.

Father:

Robert Sprackett

Mother:

Joan (White) Sprackett

child:

Nicolas James

child:

Katherine Elisabeth

husband:

James Croll