The art of nushu

Nushu, or "women's writing", was developed in 19th century China as a way for women to express themselves in a male-dominated society. Chen Jie reports

Feudal 19th-century China was a culture in which education was limited to male elites. Women, usually with bound feet, were illiterate, isolated and not expected to think, be creative, or have emotions.

But in some remote Hunan province villages women developed their own secret code: nushu, or "women's writing", a written language devised by women for women.