Introduction
The history of the Chinese women can be categorized into two parts: before the twentieth century and the modern period of liberation. The Chinese society also consisted of two groups: those that were oppressed and those that were oppressive. Traditionally, Chinese women were regarded as incompetent and weak. However, they were just victims of a patriarchal system, and for that reason, they were occasionally oppressed by men. For instance, the old women were regarded as parasites. Because of these challenges, the communist government aimed at liberating the Chinese women from the yoke of feudalism, especially Post the twentieth century.
Challenges that Faced the Women in Pre-Communist Regime
The first indicator of oppression in the era before the communist government was the practice of foot binding (Fulton 35). The practice was introduced in the eleventh century. Girls aged three years and above were wrapped with bandages on their feet, and the aim was to reduce the size of the feet (Fulton 35). It was an important thing for women as it was one of the factors that made a girl eligible for marriage.
The other indicator of oppression among the Chinese women is the type of relationships they had with men (Fulton 35). The women had several alternatives, which determined the roles they would play in the society. One could choose to be a concubine, a prostitute or a wife (Fulton 35). The men mainly used concubines for pleasure and to sire children. The women were also abused by the wives in the sense that their children would be taken away by the wives.
The other option that was available for the women was prostitution. In the late 1940s, there was a depression in the economy of China. The issue of trafficking young girls increased overnight (Fulton 36). Some of the desperate women went to the streets with their daughters so that they would exchange them for food. A lot of young girls would be taken away from school and sold to work in the brothels.
The last option for the Chinese women was to become wives. Wives had no power over their lives; they were subjected to the decisions of their husbands. They were forced to kowtow to their husbands’ family (Fulton 36). Kowtowing was a practice whereby an individual would prostrate herself to another person. All that occurred before the communist system came in place. Women had few alternatives to choose from, and regardless of what they became, they still suffered (Fulton 36).
The Achievements and Failures of Communist Party
As the leader of the Communist Party of China, Mao did not do much (Fulton 36). During his rule, many people were executed due to his misguided policies. Anyone suspected to be opposed to communism was imprisoned, and some would be starved to death. It was also during the reign of Mao that China was attacked by one of greatest famines in history. It is believed that some of the Chinese peasants used to survive on leaves and barks of trees. Parents would decide which of their children would eat, and then the rest would be starved. In many cases, girls lost out to their brothers, and this explains the current unusual female population of China.
Nevertheless, despite the criticism directed towards Mao, there were some radical improvements in the status of the women in the country (Fulton 36). He had the vision of equality in the society especially for the oppressed people in the country. He was determined to overthrow all the four authorities, which he believed would bring changes in the society. The four authorities included religion, masculinity, politics and clans (Fulton 36).
Evaluation of the Modern Woman in China
The status of women has improved considerably compared to the old days. The communist system played a significant role in ensuring that the oppressed gender in the society obtained equal rights (Iun.edu). In the old days, women did not have access to proper education. The communist system brought about the issue of equality and women were able to get more education opportunities than before.
In the old days, the women were not respected, and they underwent a lot of oppression in the hands of men (Iun.edu). The women had limited alternatives to choose their roles. They could either be wives, prostitutes or concubines. Regardless the options that one chose, oppression was still prevalent. However, in the modern days, there are more laws that have been implemented with the aim of improving the status of women in the country. A good example is the marriage law that allowed an individual to choose a spouse on his or her own. More women were given opportunities to join the work force, and this assisted in the reduction of immorality.
Although much has been done to improve the status of women in China, women still face many challenges in the society. For example, women who are in the management level of organizations are considered weak because in the old days men were the leaders (Gow et al.). In addition, although the structure of family in the country has facilitated more women to participate in the labor market, the big challenge with those women that are working is the difficulty to manage work issues and fulfill their family obligations at the same time (Gow et al.).
Reason for Government Liberating the Woman
It was important for the government to liberate the women from oppression. For a country to achieve its vision and mission in the modern day conditions, then it needs to involve all the members of the society in its activities. Initially, women were not allowed to work, and the country’s economy was not expanding because only a few citizens had been authorized to work. Education is regarded as one of the important pillars of development. If the Chinese women were not liberated, then they would not be able to access education facilities. The effect would be that the country would have a lot of illiterate people who would not assist in the development of the country.
Factors that Would Enhance Women in their Liberation Mission
Women should always ensure that they are aware of their rights. If they understand their rights, they will be able to fight those exploiting them. The other means of facilitating the liberation of women is through the formation of women organizations. Women organizations educate members on their rights and how to improve their way of living.
Conclusion
It is evident that the Chinese women have a long history. Before communism, women used to be oppressed by the men. The Communist Party tried its best to see that the status of every woman in China was improved. Nevertheless, despite all the efforts put by the government to ensure that women are treated in a just manner, there are still some challenges that face women in China. The important thing right now is to ensure that they are aware of their rights so as to safeguard against oppression.
Works Cited
Fulton, Jessica. Holding Up Half The HeaVEns: The Effect Of CommUnist Rule On China's
Women. 1st ed. iusb.edu, 2016. Print.
Gow, Emma et al. "Challenges Facing Chinese Female Managers". Global.wharton.upenn.edu.
N.p., 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.
Iun.edu. "Untitled Document". Iun.edu. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.
