Page 279 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol V

2056 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

interests of central policy.Although massive changes were in promoting social change rather than depending on the
introduced during the 1950s, during the Cultural Revo- Chinese state to improve the conditions of women. How-
lution (1966–1976) the use of oppositional terms such as ever, the groups and their tactics are interesting reflections
right-wrong, correct-incorrect, and socialist-bourgeois of the Chinese approach. No mass membership groups
served to outline what was acceptable.No organization of with demonstrations and organized displays exist as in
women working for change could exist because under the the West, but rather the Chinese movement focuses more
rule of the Cultural Revolution, women already had on service and voluntary work. Many people concentrate
equality. on scholarly work in women’s studies centers at univer-
Despite legislation, a large gap remained between sities. However, such groups are careful not to impinge
women’s legal status and their social status. Gender upon state authority but instead to provide assistance to
issues affected power relations between women and men women or to increase knowledge. They concentrate on
in that, as in the former Soviet nations, the idea that issues that are not addressed by the state. In this way the
women are mainly responsible for standards of morality state recognizes that certain types of social movements
and family order was presented as “scientific fact.” This are not a threat to its power.
idea that nature subjects women to lives dominated by The women’s groups present issues of particular inter-
reproductive concerns permeates Chinese approaches to est such as reproductive health, domestic violence, and
education and employment. At the same time, the state sexual harassment as being global in nature. This pres-
is not a gender-neutral domain of power. More than any entation removes any critical tone that could be applied
other Chinese state activity, the imposition of family to the Chinese power structure, and so the power struc-
planning that allowed only one child per family has been ture is more willing to tolerate steps to improve condi-
represented in the United States, especially during the tions in these areas.Work by women on reforms may be
Reagan-Bush era, as the quintessence of Communist even beneficial to the state because the state is unwilling
oppression. to pursue certain activities.
Recent movements toward privatization and a market This peculiarly Chinese resolution of the dilemma of a
economy have brought no improvement in women’s women’s movement provides a counterexample to the
autonomy in China.When privatization began in 1977, stereotype of a rigid, inflexible Chinese Communist
the idea that emancipation came not from individual regime. Chinese women are able to work toward reform
efforts but rather from the state remained firmly in place.
Further difficulties were introduced with the dissolution
of the planned economy; now women have more diffi-
culty in getting jobs because competition favors men, and
women must resign when they have a child.
The experiences of the Fourth World Conference on
Women held in Beijing in 1995 provide a lesson in the
cultural differences in women’s movements.The Chinese
women’s movement that emerged from the Fourth World
Conference is characterized by groups who are interested

Women warriors are the exception in human
history. These three German women were
found operating machine guns and captured
by American troops in World War I.