China 4 - social and cultural changes Flashcards
How much did divorce rates increase by in 1963 compared to 1949?
12 x
How many work points did women get compared to men in the Communes?
8 max compared to 10 for men
How many members of the Women’s association by 1953?
76 million members
Before 1949 what were 5 important parts of a woman’s subservient role in society?
- arranged marriages and concubinage
- female infanticide
- foot binding
- no educational opportunities
- ‘3 obediences’ to father, husband and son
Mao quote on women 1949
‘women hold up half the sky’
5 points of the New Marriage Law 1950?
- banned arranged marriages and concubinage
- money/ gifts in exchange for marriage prohibited
- wives could inherit husbands property
- divorce made easier
- husbands and wives to have equal status in the home
What caused a ‘double burden’ for women?
Having to work on collective farms whilst still maintaining domestic responsibilities
Issues for women within the communes? (3)
- during the famine there was very little food provided for women - as food was allocated based on amount produced. Women turned to prostitution for food.
- sexual abuse was common
- pregnant women forced to work throughout pregnancy - increasing risk of miscarriage
What had become very rare by the 1960s?
Child marriages and arranged marriages
What percentage of girls completed their primary education between 1939-49 compared to those starting after 1959?
from 38% to 100%
What percentage of primary school children were girls by 1978?
45%
How did the PLA provide opportunity for women?
Women were encouraged to join up and could even reach Officer rank
Issues of changing traditional views on women? (4)
- men still viewed housework and childcare as women’s work
- many party cadres didn’t enforce legislation such as the New Marriage Law
- arranged marriages and foot binding still continued in extremely remote areas
- Female communist officials such as Song Qingling complained her views were not treated equally
Evidence of the improved status of women?
- propaganda such as ballets (Red Detachment of Women) which challenged traditional gender views
- ability to speak at ‘speak bitterness’ meetings
- rise in divorce rates
- Wearing the Maoist uniform in the cultural revolution was a symbol of equality - and women could gain prominent positions in the Red Guards
What percentage of the Chinese population were illiterate in 1949?
80%