very considerably upon the sons she produced. Should she fail this duty, a principal wife could find herself supplemented by a concubine, in which there was no reason why the husband should decline the younger favorite. In contrast, the definition of women’s roles and family changed dramatically during the Communist Movement. The idea of communism was that of collectivism and equality. In this movement, religion was thought to be a numbing agent that only caused false hope; therefore many old rituals and Confucian ideas were somewhat dismissed and women became equal. The object of the movement was to promote women’s participation in all aspects of social life. Women were encouraged to work in the countryside and at city jobs. Educational opportunities for women also increased significantly. By the end of the 1940’s coeducation had become an accepted social norm. Women in China today are otherwise known as “half the sky,” (Yanfen, 2000), which is a popular saying indicating that women can make the same contribution to society as men, and enjoy the gender equality and social status assured them since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. In fact, China’s Constitution guarantees gender equality. By the end of 1997, women accounted for 46.5 percent of the national workforce, one of the highest labor participation ratios in the world. Economic independence has also resulted in improved family status for women. They can marry a husband of their choice, is able to possess on inherit property, and can decide for themselves whether or not to have a child. Over the past half a century, the consciousness of gender equality has made a big impact on Chinese women today. They now have a higher sense of self-respect, self-confidence, self-improvement, and self-support. Despite the tremendous achievements throughout this past century, there is still much more that needs to be done. Women...
