The revolution also brought about far reaching changes in the position of women. In the pre-revolutionary China women enjoyed a position of inferiority. They did not enjoy any independent status and had to lead a subservient life.
The revolution also brought about far reaching changes in the position of women. In the pre-revolutionary China women enjoyed a position of inferiority. They did not enjoy any independent status and had to lead a subservient life. As daughter-in-laws the women were little more than servants of their niolher-in-laws.
They were also subordinate to their husbands. One of the first things done by the Revolutionary Government was to emancipate these women from the lowly and survile position enjoyed by them in the society.
It imposed a strict ban on the sale of daughters and wives and forbade bigamy and concubinage, child brothel. Those persons who had contracted marriage under the old system and felt marriage as a burden were encouraged to dissolved marriages. Now onwards marriage began to be treated as a contract freely concluded by man and woman.
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Both husband and wife were given the right to demand divorce. Women were given equal right in family property and legal responsibility for the care of the children. They were also granted equal rights to work, education etc. Brothels were closed down and the prostitute were given new opportunities to start a new life.
While affecting a change in the position of women, the revolution also brought a change in family life. In place of primacy of family loyalty (which was a basic feature of family in the pre-revolutionary period) the Revolutionary government attached more importance to the welfare of all and encouraged people to help fellow-workers, neighbours etc.
The care of the old, children etc. was considered as the responsibility of the community. In short, the revolution brought fundamental changes in the overall life in the country.