Social developments 1952-62 Flashcards
After the ‘extinction’ of the landlord class in 1956, who became the new ‘class enemies’ in the eyes of Mao
and why?
Those within the CCP who argued for a more gradual pace of change, such as Liu Shaoqi, Deng Xiaoping
and Chen Yun. Mao thought that they were ‘capitalist roaders’ as they did not fully support the concept of
mass mobilisation.
What was Mao’s saying about women?
‘Women hold up half the sky’.
Why did the PRC want to mobilise women?
The CCP wanted to maximise the nation’s productive potential, and so needed women in fields, factories and
offices.
What was a ‘family women’ and what were CCP policies towards them?
A PRC term for a housewife. The CCP put them under pressure to work outside the home, yet they were still
expected to take responsibility over the household.
What was the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) (2)?
1) An organisation established by the PRC in 1949, to promote its policies towards women.
2) They were given a mandate to conduct ‘woman work’, including improving women’s health, education,
productive participation and the implementation of the Marriage Law.
When was the ACWF established?
1949.
How large was the ACWF by the mid 1950s?
The ACWF had 40,000 staff working in 83 cities, whilst also having a rural presence through cadres, who
were sent to live and work amongst peasants.
What held back the work of the ACWF?
The lack of funding and status. A saying in the 1950s: ‘The labour union has power, the Youth Federation has
money, but the Women’s Federation has neither’.
What was the illiteracy rate amongst adults in China in 1949?
85% of Chinese adults were illiterate.
How did the PRC boost women’s literacy rates?
Three mass campaigns in 1952, 1956, and 1958 encouraged women to attend evening classes in villages.
What was the effect of the three mass literacy campaigns on women’s literacy rates?
An extra 16 million women were able to read in 1958, compared to 1949.
What is a dowry?
Money and other goods given by the bride’s family to the husband’s family to seal the marriage contract (also
known as the bride price).
What is infanticide?
The killing of young babies, usually by parents. This was widespread in China prior to 1949, especially
towards female babies.
How were women unequal prior to the PRC (7)?
1) Women owed obedience to their fathers, their husbands or their eldest son (if widowed).
2) Arranged marriages, involving dowries, were common.
3) The rich and powerful kept concubines.
4) Few women received education before 1900.
5) Peasant women were expected to work and care for their home/children.
6) No voting rights.
7) Foot binding was only disappearing gradually.
When did the PRC introduce the Marriage Law?
1950.
What were the 6 key reforms of the Marriage Law (1950)?
1) Arranged marriages and dowries were outlawed.
2) The keeping of concubines was banned.
3) The unmarried, divorced or widowed women were given the same rights to property as men.
4) Divorce was made available to both genders on equal terms.
5) Infanticide was banned.
6) The minimum marriage age was raised to 20 for men and 18 for women.
Why was the Marriage Law of 1950 not so successful (2), especially rurally, and how was it resisted (2)?
1) It challenged cultural norms of many generations, and peasants objected greatly to the reforms.
2) Cadres were reluctant to challenge peasants in 1953, as they were trying to win cooperation for land
reform and collectivisation.
3) Families continued to use matchmakers and exchange gifts during marriage ceremonies.
4) Divorce remained difficult to obtain, and those who achieved it were ostracised.
What were the positive effects of the Marriage Law (1950) (3)?
1) Average age of marriage rose.
2) Female infanticide fell.
3) Resistance to divorce was gradually broken down in villages by Marriage Problems Teams, established by
the ACWF.
Who were Mao’s PLA dance troupe?
A select group of women Mao kept around, expected to fulfil his sexual needs. In other words, they were
‘imperial concubines’.
What was childbirth like in 1949 (2)?
1) High infant mortality rates.
2) Many women died in childbirth due to poor midwife practices.
How did the ACWF improve midwife standards?
They provided training in safer birthing practices and basic sterilisation procedures. Because of this, the
number of trained midwives increased in the years 1949 - 1959.
How and why did the CCP restrict birth control prior to 1953?
Mao believed ‘the more people we have, the stronger we are’, so the import of contraceptives was banned
and the access to abortion and sterilisation was restricted.
How did the CCP policy towards birth control shift after 1953 and why?
During the period of economic planning, planners had to consider the need for manpower balanced with the
ability to feed the nation. In 1954, the state pharmaceutical company began producing contraceptives, and in
1955, the CCP adopted population control as an official policy.
