Women in China

"Woman hold up half the sky'—Mao Tse Tung.

The women in China have, and of course still are working extremely hard to reject long held customs and habits of the old society designed to enslave them.

They view their struggle not in isolation of other exploitive aspects of society but in conjunction with the fight to free all, both men and women, from oppression.

The mobilization of women into the workforce is seen as absolutely necessary for the improvement of productive and economic forces.

This climate has allowed women the experience of economic independence which persists on into marriage. Such independence is of the utmost importance in preventing what all too frequently exists in most other ports of the world; that is the economic dependence of women on men and the subjugation, exploitation and manipulation of women which inevitably appears to be associated with having a financial master!

Economic independence is not the only form of freedom which Chinese women experience. They have also been freed from being victims of 'imposed' sexuality of which the advertising world here is the prime guilty party.

"Would not the same difficulties exist for a widower and children"?, I asked.

"No", was the reply, "for the children would have been conceived "legitimately". That is the difference".

Thus I concluded the emphasis upon legality of marriage and sexual relations.

Contraception is primarily the womens responsibility, the education of which is carried out by 'barefoot' doctors in the work situation and by family planning advisors. Contraceptive devices are free and readily available to all married couples. The main forms of contraception are the Pill, [unclear: Dhragm,] Intrauterine devices and vasectomies.

Abortions are available if both partners are mutually agreeable, although ultimately it is the womens choice. If after discussion the woman still wants an abortion and the man does not, the woman has the final right to decide.

Population control is in full force. An ideal family size is one with two children and is adhered to by most—an effort to maintain a Zero Population Growth for obvious reasons.

During pregnancy, women are of right financially self sufficient. All women receive payment of the normal wage both during pregnancy and

The Chinese people generally base their personal relationships upon friendship. The maturity of a friendship is considered to be a sound basis for the establishment of a marriage upon which sexual relations could develop, (rather than the reverse which all too frequently exists in western society).

The most suitable age for marriage is regarded as 25yrs for women and 27 yrs for men.

Owing to the pre-liberation trends of moral degradation of sexuality, a great deal more emphasis is placed upon the legality of marriage.

When speaking on the illegitmacy question, I was 'informed' for a Chinese child to be born outside of marriage would mean it was born out of disrespect. If the couple had loved and respected each other they would have waited to conceive a child within marriage. On the rare occasions that a child is conceived outside of marriage, the couple would be persuaded to decide upon either marriage or adoption of the child. Institutions exist for orphans in the transitional stages of adoptions. The children are not kept within their family of origin, "for" I was told, "difficulties may arise when the person who keeps the begins courting". Our interpreter—Miss Shui—claimed that one could not expect the new partner to love another child as his own. 56 - 70 days post natally after which they return to work. The provision of child care facilities in the form of nurseries and kindergartens are attached to communes, factories and other work places. These facilities allow men and women the opportunity to pursue employment knowing their children are cared for according to their needs. Child care is everybody's responsibility.

The vetecans in the community assist with the light housework, care for the young children and assist in their education. Character development along socialist lines, is based upon concern and respect for fellow men and is the main grounding of the children's educational process.

Thus the elderly members of their community are placed in positions of responsibility, and are anything but dispensable. They are still vital, valuable contributors to the whole society.

The confidence women have gained through the revolutionary struggles has meant that the majority of housewives have stepped out of their homes to assist in adding to the material wealth of the country. In the process they have gained a greater measure of equal rights and position socially, economically, culturally and in family life.

Marg. Leniston.