Flashcards for Women in China (Mao's Era)

What were women’s roles in Imperial China?

• Patriarchal society enforced by Confucian teachings (san gang).

• Subordinate to men, with limited roles outside the home.

• Arranged marriages and foot binding symbolized oppression.

What was Mao’s attitude toward women and marriage?

• Rejected arranged marriage at 14, condemning it as evidence of a corrupt system.

• Criticized arranged marriages as "indirect rape" and supported women’s emancipation.

• Later became inconsistent, as he was a notorious womanizer and the Communist Party remained male-dominated.

What reforms were introduced under the New Marriage Law (1950)?

• Abolished concubinage, arranged marriages, dowries, and bride-prices.

• Legalized divorce for men and women.

• Mandatory marriage registration.
  Challenges: High divorce rates led to restrictions, such as soldiers denying wives’ divorce requests.

What happened to women’s property rights under Chinese Communism?

• Women briefly gained land ownership during land redistribution.

• Collectivization abolished private property, erasing these gains.

How did women’s workforce participation change under Mao?

• Women in the workforce increased from 8% to 32% (1949-1976).

• Many women were assigned heavy labor unsuitable for their physical capacity.

What were the effects of collectivization on women’s domestic life?

• Communes introduced mess halls and communal childcare, reducing household duties.

• Propaganda celebrated these changes, but actual benefits were limited.

• Women lost autonomy and private property rights; family structures were undermined.

What challenges persisted for women in Mao’s era?

• Strong preference for male children persisted.

• Women in rural areas, especially Muslim regions like Xinjiang, faced violence and subordination.

• Women were underrepresented in politics (13% of Communist Party members).

How did the Great Famine (1958-1962) affect women?

• Women sacrificed their own food for children, leading to suffering and malnutrition.

• Extreme cases: child abandonment, wife-selling, and cannibalism.

• Families broke apart; divorce rates soared.

How did the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) affect women and families?

• Family loyalty was replaced by loyalty to Mao and the Communist Party.

• Children were encouraged to report relatives who clung to "old values."

• Traditional roles like motherhood were condemned, with communal living enforced.

What were the effects of population growth during Mao’s rule?

• Population nearly doubled, with Mao viewing growth as an asset.

• Later leaders imposed strict controls to address overpopulation.

What were the overall gains for women under Mao?

• Legal reforms granting freedom in marriage and limited property rights.

• Increased workforce participation.

What were the overall losses for women under Mao?

• Persistent societal prejudices and exploitation.

• Loss of property rights due to collectivization.

• Suffering during the Great Famine and Cultural Revolution.

• Limited political representation and tokenism in equality policies.