The Women's Movement in New China

Abstract

The movement of the Chinese women for emancipation has always been closely linked to the liberation movement of the Chinese people and has become an integral part of the latter. Ever since the Chinese people's revolution won nation-wide victory and the People's Republic of China was founded, the Chinese women, together with the Chinese people as a whole, have become the masters of the country. In accordance with the principle of equality between men and women, the Central People's Government of China, in formulating the various policies and laws, has paid great attention to protecting the interests and rights of women and children. For example, Article 6 of the Common Programme adopted by the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference provides: "The People's Republic of China shall abolish the feudal system which holds women in bondage. Women shall enjoy equal rights with men in political, economic, cultural, educational and social life. Freedom of marriage for men and women shall be put into effect…" Article 32 provides: "The special interests of juvenile and women workers shall be safeguarded." Article 48 provides: "…attention shall be paid to the protection of the health of mothers, infants and children." In other laws promulgated in New China, such as the Marriage Law, the Agrarian Reform Law, the Labour Insurance Regulations etc., there are specific stipulations for the protection of the rights of women in accordance with the principles of the Common Programme. All this has paved a broad road for the emancipation of the Chinese women, entitling them to have the opportunity and the right to work, study and take part in all kinds of social activities on an equal footing with men. The Chinese women have taken an active part in the various national movements, such as the campaign for Resisting American Aggression and Aiding Korea, the Land Reform Movement, the Movement for the Suppression of the Counter-revolutionaries etc., and have actively participated in the various work of economic and political construction of the nation. In so doing, they have greatly advanced the movement for women's emancipation. Now, I will report briefly on some main points.