The 1950 New Marriage Law

What changes did the new marriage law make?

• Women could now receive legal equality: They could hold property and seek divorce.

• The paying of dowries or bride-prices was forbidden as was child marriage: women had to be 18 years old before they could marry

• Marriages could not result from coercion: free will was required

What statistics suggested that the New Marriage Law and propaganda was effective?

Between 1946 and 1949 18.6% of marriage had a bride who was aged 16-17 but by 1958-65 this had dropped to 2.4%.

What problems did the New Marriage law cause for men? How was the divorce rate after the law was enacted?

Men who had paid a bride-price expected to be able to reap an economic reward from their marriage and they were extremely upset. The law led to rocketing divorce rates with 1.4 million petitions filed in 1953

How did the cadres react to the new marriage laws?

They were hostile towards the new law as some feared that free choice in marriage would cause turmoil while others feared that only rich men would be able to find wives. Most cadres refused to uphold the laws in their local areas instead siding with the local population because they feared resistance and unrest.

How did Muslim communities react to the new marriage laws?

In non-Han Chinese areas such as Xinjiang life for women in many rural communities remained unchanged. Muslims resented the challenge to their long-held customs.