Impact of Collectivisation and Communes on Women's Lives

Question 1

1. What did Mao label women working in the fields with men as?
2. What were women who matched men seen as?
3. However, what did women still largely undertake?

Answer 1

1. ‘Liberation through labour.’
2. ‘Labour heroines.’
3. Domestic chores.

Question 2

1. What kinds of diseases could spread fast in the kindergartens due to the appalling care?
   - At one Kindergarten in Beijing, what % of the kids got sick?
2. Why did women eat less than men in the communal canteens?
   - Why were they neglected when food was low?
3. As famine increased, what were many women forced into for food?
   - What became widespread amongst women?

Answer 2

1. Worms, measles.
   - 90%.
2. Food was based on the amount of labour.
   - Men needed strength.
3. Prostitution.
   - Suicide.

Question 3

1. How many work points would men receive due to physical strength?
   - How many would women receive as a maximum?
   - What did this reinforce?
2. Who took advantage of their position and abused women?
3. How many party secs assaulted how many women in one commune near Guangzhou?
4. In another northern village, a sec raped __ women.
5. In Hunan, _______ ______ forced women to work _____.

Answer 3

1. Up to 10.
   - 8.
   - Traditional gender roles.
2. Party Cadres and officials.
3. 2 party secs assaulted over 30 women (34).
4. Nearly 30 women.
5. Factory bosses, naked.