Women Wider Reading Flashcards
Confucius had taught that in order for a society to be harmonious it had to follow the rules of
San gang - part of which was obedience of wives to their husbands so tradition for women to be discriminated against in China.
Notorious affair in Changsha 1919
A young woman, forced by her family to marry a wealthy man she detested, waiting before the wedding morning before cutting her throat and bleeding to death
What did Mao condemn arrange marriages as
‘Indirect rape’ and said women had been ‘relegated to the dark corners of society’
Mao in practise
Mao and the party often failed to respect the principle of female equality. Notorious womaniser. Party still a male-dominated system. Few of the important party posts went to women- foreign visitors to the Comm based at Yanan noted how the domestic chores were carried out by the female comrades
Ding Ling
Joined Comms at Yanan. Described Mao and CCP as hypocrites. Claimed they exploited the women who worked for them.
Limitation of marriage law- special clause
A special clause was added to PLA regulations giving soldiers the legal right to overrule their wives’ plea for a divorce
How much did women in workforce increase but why wasn’t this positive
1949-66, 8-29%. Heavy or dangerous physical labour so worse off than before
Ingrained prejudice against women
China was by deep-seated tradition a male-dominated society. Women were still having to compete with Chinese ingrained notions of their inferiority. Clearly evident in the common prejudice against female babies. The birth of a baby boy was thought to bring honour on the family, and the promises of another form of income; girls were seen as a drain on resources.
CCP restrictions on women
Comm authorities may not have been as committed to gender equality as they claimed. Soong Qingling, one of the few women to hold a high position in the PRC, later complained that her party colleagues did not treat her as an equal and did not accept that women comrades could play key roles in govt and party.
During Mao’s time, women made up how much membership
13% membership of comm party
1954 percentage of women deputies in the National People’s Congress compared to 1975
14%, 23%
How did reduction in importance of family impact women
The Chinese people, a profoundly conservative people, became disorientated. The famine that struck so many parts of China in GREAT LEAP deepened this sense of helplessness.
What happened in famine
Daughters killed first or sold to highest bidder, wife-selling, prostitution
What did CCP do during famine that shows not committed to equality
CCP workers in Anhui set up a series of brothels reserved for special use by Party members
