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Women and Development - Women's Status After the Communist Revolution

4 important questions on Women and Development - Women's Status After the Communist Revolution

The communist revolution wanted to transform China into an egalitarian society. One of the measues to produce equality was the Marriage Law of 1950. What did this law entail?

This Marriage Law gave divorced, unmarried or widowed women the right to hold land in their own names. The law also aimed to abolish the legal standing of arranged marriage, child marriage and polygamy, and to establish marriage as a voluntary contract between two equal adults, as well as permit them to divorce.

What was a negative consequence of the Marriage Law?

The violence against women who opposed their husbands. A lot of women were even murdered or driven to suicide when they wanted to gain their freedom.

Why was the measure of bringing women to work in the public sphere by the Communist Party not truly an equality measure?

Women were working outside the home, just like men, but on top of that they had to perform all household choirs. Men were not required to take part in the domestic work, which was very intensive work since the houses lacked running water and modern stoves.

What measure of China will prove to have the largest impact on promoting equality according to the author?

The policy of promoting equal eduction for girls and boys. Far less Chinese are now illiterate and the enrollment rate of girls in primary school is near a 100%.