Women in the Revolutions of China and Iranby Rit Nosotro
Pick two revolutions (Russian, Chinese, Cuban, or Iranian) and compare their effects on the roles of women.
Revolutions have always had an effect on women and their role in society. Some revolutions gave women more opportunities while others restricted them to domestic servants. The Chinese and Iranian revolutions are prime examples of both ends of the spectrum.
In the Chinese revolution of 1949, women gained greater rights and freedoms. To demonstrate the success of communism Mao declared women and men to be equal. He forced both sexes to wear gender neutral clothing (contrast with Deuteronomy 22:5) and demanded equal labor in the factories and fields. Women were relieved of the burden of child care with the implementation of communal living. The state now officially recognized women as equal members of society. Some visible signs of this were legislation that outlawed oppressive marital practices and made divorce legal.
After the Cultural Revolution (1966-1978) and Mao Zedong’s death, major economic reforms were enacted in the Chinese government. This placed a strain on the idea of equality in the workplace since women were viewed as a liability because of extra leave time needed for maternity. This resulted in more women being laid off. However, since then the government has created a number of organizations to help and protect women, especially in the workplace. With the "one child" policy women are coerced into having abortions and families who have more than one child are burdened with enormous taxes. Thus, although footbinding was made illegal, women been encouraged away from family responsibilities and moved toward the industrialization of China and state mandated responsibilities. Loyalty to the state became more important than loyalty to one's family after the Communist revolution in 1949.
Iran, however, took women the opposite way in their democratic revolution of 1979. With the Shah overthrown a fundamentalist government took over the country through terror. Within a few years Iran went from being a Western influenced country to one ruled by strict Islamic rules and codes. Cruelty towards women was justified in the name of the Koran. The Koran has a few things to say about women. “Treat them with kindness; for even if you dislike them, it may well be that you dislike a thing which God has meant for your abundant good.” (4:9) However, the Koran also says “men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other,” (4:34). This is what the current Iranian government has taken to the extreme.
Since the overthrow of the monarchy in 1979 one of the most obvious signs of Islamic fundamentalism has appeared: the chador, a bell shaped garment covering all of the woman’s body and head scarves so that no strand of hair is shown. Discrimination also runs rampant in the work place and homelife of Iranian women. Only 6% of women are employed in Iran and many public facilities are segregated. Domestic abuse is often considered a man’s right if it is brought to court. Women’s rights are virtually unheard of in Iran because of the strict Islamic laws which govern the nation.
Women have always had to battle views that they are not significant members of society and should be in the home only. In some cases they have made great strides forward towards equality and status. Oftentimes, however, women lose these battles and become inferior again. Both of these extremes are illustrated in the Chinese and Iranian revolutions. Revolutions never happen without an impact on women and wherever the next major revolution occurs the world will watch to see if women emerge free or more oppressed.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Name the year of the Chinese revolution.
2. Why did Mao declare men and women to be equal?
a) to demonstrate the success of communism
b) to demonstrate the success of socialism
c) to show their differences
d) to show the strength of women
3. What happened to the country of Iran after the 1979 revolution?
a) It became more Western.
b) It stayed the same.
c) It went back to strict Islamic code.
d) It took parts of the Koran into the culture.
4. What is the percentage of women employed in Iran?
Regelbugge, Christiane Beyond the Veil- Women in Iran copyright 2004
The National Council of Resistance Iran Foreign Affairs Committee Women, Islam and Equality- Chapter Two, Prime Victims
Arend, Patricia An Introduction to the English Language Literature on Women's Studies in China copyright 2000
Dong, Huilin Chinese Women: Bridging the Gap between Legal Equality and Reality
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