Jonathon Gerry
English 191
December 3rd,
2012
Women Equality in China and America
One
of the biggest problems the world has always struggled with and still struggles
with to this day is Women’s Equality. For centuries, women have oppressed,
discriminated, and abused because of the gender bias emphasized in one society.
All across the world, women and their input and regulation into society has
progressed throughout history. Women play a huge part in holding together their
country and without them everything would fall apart. One country that has made
tremendous progress regarding their women and their partake in the community is
China. China went from an inferior view on women to a major aspect in their
economic world. The next country that will be discussed about is none but the
United States. It is important to know the United States history and where it
came from so that we don’t make the same mistake again. Women are taking action
and help building this proud nation and without them, the United States wouldn’t
be what it is today. Women play a key factor in the world and should not be
taken for granted just because of the gender.
The first country we are going to view on considering the
women’s issue is the one we are in right now, the United States of America. The
United States wasn’t always a wonderful place for women to live in, but as time
went on the States took further steps to improve themselves to become the
country it is today.
Prior
to the 1800s women in the United States were nothing more than stay home house
wives. Women were not only thought to have a major role in the house, but also
that’s where they were only used for. Pretty much women weren’t allowed to have
much to say in society, such as “Women were pushed to the sidelines as
dependents of men, without the power to bring suit, make contracts, own
property, or vote” (1). It wasn’t until in 1789, a famous women by the name of Abigail
Adams, hit her husband with a famous quote through a letter that sticks to this
day “Remember the Ladies.” Abigail Adams was the start of it all to get women
where they are today, with her strong beliefs, she wrote a letter to her
husband, John, pleading him to put “Remember the Ladies” in the Constitution.
A
second important step in women’s history in the states occurred in 1792, where
Sarah Pierce established the first institution for higher education for women
in America. Another important factor that occurred during June 27, 1792, when
Title IX was passed by U.S. Congress and signed by President Richard M. Nixon.
What this law took into account was “civil rights law prohibiting
discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal funds. It
was the first comprehensive federal law to prohibit sex discrimination against
students and employees in these institutions” (2). This law gave a huge advantage for women
regarding multiple areas in the education system, such as access to career
education, higher education, math and science skills, sexual harassment, and
standardized testing. All of these covered important parts of women lives in
the education system that gave women more encouragement to enroll in school.
Looking
at what it was like before in the United States for women in the education
system, they didn’t really have much of a fair chance compared to men. Before
the IX was passed, certain areas were restricted for women, such as courses. It
is said that women were restricted in “auto mechanics or criminal justice,
while male students could not take home economics” (2). These courses were
restricted in a gender biased way because what they believed women weren’t
capable of doing or able to handle compared to men. Not only was it hard for
women taking the course, but the women faculty women members. Women faculty
members back then weren’t allowed to join clubs or activities that interested
them at all involved with other faculty members on the campus. Last, but not
least, colleges made it more difficult and demanding for women to get into
colleges compared to men. For example, medical and law schools only held
fifteen opening spots for women to enroll in their programs. Not only was it
tough to get into medical and law schools, but regular schools in general. When
enrolling in schools women had a tougher time getting into schools due to
higher standards. This online article gives a little glimpse of what it was
like to be in a woman’s shoe back then when she is looking at a college. The
article says that “women to have higher test scores and better grades than male
applicants to gain admission” (2). Overall, women had a tough time regardless
of the situation, before, during, and even after their college life because of
the gender biased established in the States a while back.
When
IX came into action it turned that course of women and their positions
regarding education for the rest of the United States history. Statistics show
that after the law was put into action “In 1973, 43% of female high school
graduates were enrolled in college. This grew to 63% in 1994” (2). These stats
show a great increase in the women enrollment into programs and reflects the
improvement in this area regarding women and their participation in college.
China is one of the most progressive countries concerning
women and their role in the country. In ancient China, women were severely
oppressed, abused, and degraded no matter what class, from the lower class to
the top of the chain in the imperial family. Confucianism was one of China’s
ancient teachings that greatly influenced China’s perspective on life that took
a huge toll on women. An article found online states the wide spread affect on
Confucianism teachings back then with “For 2,500 years Confucian teachings have
influenced the thought and behavior of peoples in China, Korea, Japan, and
Vietnam” (1). Confucianism beliefs revolved around ideas that made women
inferior to men. Such ideas reflected in the women’s home, education, and
society as a whole. For example, back then women’s life centered around the
household. As a wife, it was a woman’s duty to take care of her husband and
family. Very rarely did a woman ever leave the household because it was her
responsibility to keep things in top shape for her family. The only time a
women was superior was when she outlives her husband as was considered an
elder, so she gains the most respect out of anybody. A way that Confucianism
affected China was the education for women. China back then did not believe it
was necessary to educate women because their place was not in school, but at
home. A quote from an online bibliography is able to illustrate the struggle
for women to get an education and it was not easy. The quote states, “Some girls who had scholars as fathers could learn from
them, but female scholars were very rare”(2). Last, but not least, Confucianism
gave women a lower ranking in the hierarchy level overall. Women had lower
positions than men in every aspect and this was thought to be an acceptable
thing. Overall, because of the teachings of Confucianism, women were thought to
be inferior in every aspect of life and were just as useful as being a
housewife, nothing more or less.
After
centuries of oppression and degradation, Chinese women finally took a stand for
themselves. One of the first steps China took for women happened in 1919, the
May Fourth Movement. During the May Fourth Movement women finally got a chance
for their voice to be heard and help mold the new era of China. During the May
Fourth Movemen China women got to do what was uncommon, “The cities newly
liberated women, 'modeng [modern]' girls who had been educated, became
a loud voice for further changes,” (4). Back then, having a woman’s voice be
heard in China is rare, but unfortunately this wasn’t enough to give women
equality. Even though the May Fourth Movement was being put into act, it still
didn’t bring equality between men and women in China and things were still what
they used to be.
It
wasn’t until in 1949, China took one of its biggest step for women when the
Communist Revolution brought Mao Zedong into power. Mao was not only the
founder of the People’s Republic of China, but also the push women in China needed
to move forward. Mao Zedong saw a lot more in women than what the rest of China
did and because of that he was able to give them the key to unlock many doors
many women couldn’t go through. A quote stated by Mao himself emphasizes the
importance of women in society by stating “Women hold up half the sky” (5). This powerful
statement by Mao shows his appreciation towards women by telling everybody
women should not be prohibited or limited for anything just because of their
gender.
With
Mao in power, in 1954, China Communist Party confirmed in the first
constitution that women get to become full citizens in China. In Article 91, it
gives a list of terms of where women have the same rights as men do. Such terms
were “women equal rights with men in all areas of political, economical,
cultural, social and domestic life” (5). The next step in Mao’s process is to
get everybody on board with the women equality.
When Mao Zedong gave women equal rights, he had plans for
them that would soon lead to his own demise. Mao believed that the only way for
women to earn their equality in society is through labor work. Mao Zedong did
believe women have a huge roll in holding the country together, but was he
really doing it for them, or just to put on a show? It turns out later in 1958,
Mao Zedong attempted to aid China economically with his master plan, the Great
Leap Forward. Mao put the Great Leap Forward into play in order to get China
ahead of the game in the economy compared to the rest of their opponents. What
Mao did was he took a lot of rural areas throughout the country provided that
land for industries, factories, power plants, etc., etc.. This was a huge
opportunity for women to prove themselves and earn their rights among the men
in the work field. Not only did the industries provide opportunity to work, but
the confidence, and rights as an individual in the community. Women started to
work everywhere now, “commune-run industries, water conservancy, afforestation,
and construction projects” (5). The Great Leap Forward was a great idea and a
great outcome for women to get out and prove themselves and to finally become a
part of the community.
Even
though the Great Leap Forward was looking positive for women in China, it was
taking a huge toll on the nation as a whole. Instead of the economy going
forward in China, it went backwards and took a big hit economically. As time
went on China was digging itself into a deeper hole, things got worse for women
in the work field. Soon the government was messing with the wages, such as “the government
implemented different wages from industry to industry, often assigning a lower
pay scale to “women’s” industries like textiles and collective enterprises”
(Burnett). Pretty much what was happening
was the government was gender biased and started to give men more of an
advantage in the workforce compared to women. Back then, women were still seen
as less educated and physically incapable of working like men do, so they were
provided lower wages and less job opportunities. As time went on millions of
people started to lose jobs, starting with women. The downfall from the Great
Leap Forward affected women mostly, as explained here, “declining industrial
investment in small neighborhood factories and bad harvests in the country
returned the job market back to male workers. When many nurseries, mess halls,
and other services were scaled down or abolished, large numbers of women lost
their jobs” (5). Soon enough, China returned to its old traditions that women
have been striving to overcome.
After
Mao Zedong dug himself in a hole with the Great Leap Forward, which ended in
1961, the Cultural Revolution began in 1966. This was a great rebound for not
only the nation, but for women in China. During the Cultural Revolution young
women started to get more freedom and less pressure of that entitlement of
family responsibility that China tradition upheld. In 1967, a group of women called “Iron Girl
Brigades,” Women started to work in heavy industries proving to everyone that
women could handle heavy duty jobs men could handle. After proving themselves,
women started enrolling into critical jobs, such as “all-male jobs such as oil drilling, repairing
high-voltage lines, and building bridges. Increasing numbers of women worked in
heavy industry, joined the militia and the PLA, and became technicians and
assumed positions of leadership in the textile factories. Half of all doctors
and “barefoot doctors” in the countryside were women” (7). The Cultural
Revolution exactly the opportunity women needed in China. During this time
period women were allowed to step forward and answer the call when and because
they did, they have a better spot in China and better opportunities.
After
years have gone by, we now look where China is today in the world regarding women’s
place in society. A significant law that has been amended recently in 2001 by
China is the Marriage Law. The Marriage Law covers numerous areas in not only
women, but both genders. One of the rules inputted in society by the Marriage
Law is that marriage can only occur within certain age limits and that both
people got consent. Another thing the Marriage Law helps out along with the Law
on Protection of Women’s Rights both prohibit domestic violence. Such actions
are considered domestic violation towards the other party member stated
“encompassing beating, binding, maiming, forcible deprivation of personal
liberty, or other means resulting in physical or psychological injury to a
family member” (3).
China’s
Resources
(6)
Burnett,
“Women’s Employment Rights in China,” 294.
(8)
United States Resources
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