Such reasoning may contribute to why China is rich in wealth but poor in thought. It’s not because people don’t have the ability; it is a country with a large population that is diligent, but because there is no space for independent thoughts, to give birth, to grow. With significant development in economics, however, the majority of people live a life that lacks respect.
What shaped the psychological structure is not Confucianism as a philosophy, but the long-term institutionalization of selected Confucian values in the service of a political aim — it is obedience — being obedient is the greatest merit.
And such a merit was polished into a core word “XIAO” , which doesn’t have a translation in English, directly or indirectly; a particular Asian culture, as Japan and Korea, shares the same value as well. For everyone, basically, being obedient to their superior whose title or age is higher than theirs. However, for females, except for this, they have to obey their husbands and brothers.
When in a culture where “resistance” is not allowed at all, a denial is easily transferred to oneself as an inherent brainwashing to survive — “I’m suffering, because I deserve it, that’s my fate in life”, or “I don't deserve it.”
It’s a long-standing historical impact, passed from one generation to another. The introduction of feminism served as a change in the new fashion. However, it’s not revolutionary, just popular on social media, and then cut off by the official.
Some attribute it to a structural problem. It is. But such an attitude is a bit pessimistic, which sounds like it’s the fate of the people in the country. It still retains the same value.
Then, it’s an escape to freedom; such self-denial serves as an excuse.