culture Flashcards
What did Clause Six of the Communist Common Program promise?
Equal treatment and elimination of the feudal past
It aimed to dismantle hierarchical family structures influenced by Confucian values.
What were the Confucian values mentioned in the text?
Obedience to parents and elders
These values encouraged a bourgeois mindset characterized by materialism.
What was the practice of Foot Binding?
Breaking toes of girls and binding them to 3 inches
It was seen as a sign of beauty and distinction, restricting women’s movement, and was outlawed in 1911.
What changes did the new marriage law bring?
Respect for women, voluntary marriage, and registration of marriages
Mao condemned the traditional marriage system and outlawed arranged marriages and dowries.
What provisions were made regarding divorce under the new marriage law?
Divorce was available on equal terms and had to be registered
Women retained property they had before marriage.
What practices were outlawed by the new marriage law?
Concubinage and polygamy
Although parents had less power over women, the state replaced them in authority.
What was the significance of the land distribution program in 1950?
It advanced women’s emancipation by allowing them to own land in their own name
This program was part of broader social reforms aimed at improving women’s rights.
What was the status of women in pre-1949 China?
Patriarchal society based on Confucian values where women had to obey men.
What significant change occurred for women following the 1911 revolution?
Women gained more rights.
What did Clause Six of the Communist Common Program promise?
Equal treatment and the elimination of the feudal past.
What was foot binding and when was it outlawed?
A practice of breaking girls’ toes and binding their feet to 3 inches, outlawed in 1911.
What was the impact of the marriage law introduced after 1949?
Women were to be treated with respect, marriages had to be freely entered, and practices like arranged marriage and dowries were outlawed.
What was a significant outcome of the land distribution program in 1950 for women?
Women were able to own land in their own name.
What was the effect of collectivization on women’s land ownership?
Women lost land ownership due to collectivization.
What was the impact of the Great Leap Forward on women’s work and pay?
Women earned fewer work points due to lower productive capacity and faced traditional beliefs from cadres.
What happened to women’s rights during the famine years?
Women were treated worse, had less food, and faced increased rates of prostitution and divorce.
How did the workforce participation of women change post-1949?
Women in the workforce quadrupled but still made up only ⅓ of the workforce.
What was the role of female Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution?
They were accepted only if they exhibited violent behavior, losing their identity as women.
What were the implications of the population policy introduced in 1971?
It aimed to reduce the birth rate to 2% and pressured mothers into having two children.
What was the literacy rate in China by 1964, and what was the initial rate in 1949?
Literacy rate rose from 20% in 1949 to 64% in 1964.
What was the purpose of the ‘barefoot doctors’ program?
To provide rudimentary healthcare and prevent endemic diseases in rural areas.
What was the outcome of the 1952 Patriotic Health Campaign?
Linked dirt and disease, leading to improved hygiene and health in the peasantry.
What cultural changes occurred during the Communist regime?
Imposition of proletarian culture, destruction of Confucian values, and censorship of artistic expression.
How did the regime view religion?
As a tool that gave the masses hope and was seen as unnecessary after the removal of oppressors.
What happened to Tibetan Buddhism under Communist rule?
Persecution intensified, and Tibetan nationalism was seen as a threat.
What was the significance of the Red Guards’ attack on the ‘Four Olds’?
It aimed to eliminate old customs, culture, habits, and ideas.
What was the role of Jiang Qing in cultural policy?
Strict control and censorship of culture, promoting works that aligned with Communist themes.
What was the primary focus of education reforms post-1949?
To create a literate population for economic progress and propaganda.
Fill in the blank: The literacy rate rose from ______ in 1949 to 64% in 1964.
20%
True or False: The Great Leap Forward improved women’s economic status.
False
What was the impact of collectivization on women’s ownership of land?
Land ownership was short-lived and taken away by collectivization
Collectivization aimed to redistribute land but often resulted in women losing their rights to land ownership.
How did collectivization affect women’s roles in the household?
It was meant to free women from household drudgery but did not achieve this goal
Traditional gender roles persisted despite the intentions of collectivization.
Why did men earn more work points compared to women?
Men earned more work points because women’s productive capacity was considered lower
This disparity reflected traditional beliefs about gender roles.
How did cadres’ beliefs affect women during collectivization?
Cadres held traditional beliefs and did not tolerate women’s absence due to pregnancy
This led to further discrimination against women in the workforce.
What happened to women during the years of famine?
Women were treated worse, faced food scarcity, and had to decide if they or their children would eat
The famine exacerbated existing gender inequalities.
What were some consequences of famine for women?
Women were driven into prostitution, divorce rates rose by 60%, and there was wife selling
The famine led to severe social and economic pressures on women.
What argument can be made about children during the famine?
It can be argued that children suffered more than women
The prioritization of resources often left children in vulnerable situations.
What was the status of women in the workforce after collectivization?
Women in the workforce quadrupled but still constituted only ⅓ of the workforce
Despite increased participation, women remained underrepresented.
What was the role of propaganda regarding women’s issues?
Propaganda supported women’s issues
It aimed to promote gender equality but often failed in practice.
How were female Red Guards accepted in society?
Female Red Guards were only accepted by being as violent as their male counterparts
This acceptance often required them to lose their identity as women.
What was the public’s stance on gender inequality during this period?
The people’s daily condemned gender inequality
There was a societal acknowledgment of the issue, but systemic change was slow.
What was integral to the religion in the Muslim provinces of the far west?
Arranged marriages
Arranged marriages were a significant cultural practice within these communities.
What was the role of cadres in relation to changing attitudes about marriage law?
Use propaganda to change attitudes
Cadres were expected to promote acceptance of new marriage laws through propaganda.
What delayed the implementation of the marriage law?
Male resistance
Strong male opposition hindered the enforcement of new marriage regulations.
What initiative was taken in the early 50s to combat male opposition to the marriage law?
Step up in propaganda
Increased efforts were made to educate and persuade the populace about the new marriage law.
Who was trained to persuade acceptance of the new marriage law?
All China Women’s Federation cadres
These cadres were specifically educated in the workings of the marriage law to promote its acceptance.
