传统东乡族社会的家族等级制度主要依靠的原则有三个:性别、年龄与辈分。男性不管是在家庭地位还是在社会地位上都对女性具有绝对权威,但对女性本身而言,随着年龄的增长和辈分的升级,她的家庭地位会有所升高。东乡族女性一生所经历的这种家庭地位的变化模式,不是一蹴而就的,它既受宗教信仰的规制、儒家文化的渗透,又受区域经济水平的限制和个人主观能动性的影响。要改变东乡族女性家庭地位低下的现状,就不仅要改变东乡族女性自身的观念和受教育程度,更要改变整个东乡社会的文化环境和文化氛围,改变本民族男性对女性的态度。 The traditional family hierarchy of Dongxiang society mainly depends on three principles: gender, age and seniority. Men have absolute authority over women regardless of their family status or social status. However, for women themselves, their family status will increase as they grow older and upgrade their seniority. The changing pattern of the family status experienced by the Dongxiang women in their whole life is not accomplished overnight. It is not only regulated by religious belief but also infiltrated by Confucianism. It is also affected by the restriction of regional economic level and individual subjectivity. To change the status quo of the low status of female family in Dongxiang ethnic group, it not only needs to change the concept and educational level of Dongxiang women themselves, but also change the cultural environment and cultural atmosphere of the entire Dongxiang community and change the attitudes of their own ethnic men toward women.