Chronologies | Week 5
Nationalism and Gender in China
May 4, 1919 May Fourth Movement; Chinese students and merchants protest Japanese interference, new national identity formed. Female students participate. First large-scale involvement of women in political action.
1920's-30's Campaign carried out in press, new literary journals for a "New China". Men and women writers attack "big family system" and the oppression of women. Urban women push for birth control, end of foot binding, and a political voice. But rural women little affected.
1927 The GMD under Chiang Kai-shek attempts to eliminate Communist rivals in brutal massacre. New nationalist government advocates gender conservatism, limits political roles of women, stresses modern woman practice self-restraint and self-sacrifice.
1937-49 Communists escape Chiang's troops and end up after Long March in Yenan in northern Shanxi province. They build up local support against GMD and Japanese and establish social program for development of a new, socialist China--including promises to "modernize" marriage and gender relations.
1942 CCP Rectification Campaign. Mao purges his enemies, return to explicit policy of gender conservatism. Woman writer Ding Ling punished for criticizing party leaders' treatment of women. Advocate women's participation in production as only means to "liberation".
1950 CCP Marriage Reform Law. Granted rights to divorce, banned arranged marriage, infant betrothal, and selling women. Conjugal "love" now touted as basis of proper monogamous marriage. National identity emphasizes hard work, collectivity. Begin period of Communist sexual puritanism.
1953 Failures of Marriage Reform Law reported. Publicity campaign launched to "gently" inform people of the new laws.
later 50's Conservative retrenchment in rural areas; women urged in "5 Goods" campaign to work hard in family and household. Collective labor was subject to gender restrictions.
1958 Great Leap Forward. Mao attempts to push China to quick modernization. Collective kitchens and daycare for women to work longer hours. "Iron woman" models as strong, patriotic, independent and doing man's work to benefit the nation.
1960-70's Cultural Revolution. Mao mobilizes youthful "Red Guards" to whip the country into patriotric frenzy. Women encouraged to participate more fully in production and political activities. Young women leave home as Red Guards or sentdown youth. Sexuality seen as bourgeois and improper. All citizens made to wear gender-neutral, desexualized clothing and hairstyles.
1980's-2000's Conservative retrenchment with economic reforms at the same time as young people feel more "liberated" sexually. Women hold up rural economy while many men seek work elsewhere. "Double burden" intense for urban women. Rise of new feminist and LGBTQ movements that meet state repression.