Women in China
A woman in rural Jiangxi
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| Gender Inequality Index | |
|---|---|
| Value | 0.213 (2012) |
| Rank | 35th |
| Maternal mortality (per 100,000) | 37 (2010) |
| Women in parliament | 24.2% (2013) |
| Females over 25 with secondary education | 54.8% (2010) |
| Women in labour force | 67.7% (2011) |
| Global Gender Gap Index | |
| Value | 0.6908 (2013) |
| Rank | 69th out of 144 |
The lives of women in China have significantly changed throughout reforms in the late Qing Dynasty, the Chinese Civil War, and rise of the People's Republic of China, which publicly committed itself to gender equality. Efforts the new Communist government made toward gender equality were met with resistance in the historically male-dominated Chinese society, and obstacles continue to stand in the way of women seeking to gain greater equality in China.
Pre-modern Chinese society was predominantly patriarchal and patrilineal from at least the 11th century BCE onwards. The freedoms and opportunities available to women varied depending on the time period and regional situation. The status of women was, like that of men, closely tied to the Chinese kinship system. There has long been a son preference in China, leading to high rates of female infanticide, as well as a strong tradition of restricting the freedom of movement of women, particularly upper class women, manifested through the practice of foot binding. The legal and social status of women has greatly improved in the 20th century.
Traditional marriage in prerevolutionary China was a contract between families rather than between two individuals. The parents of the soon-to-be groom and bride arranged the marriage with an emphasis on the alliance between the two families. Spouse selection was based on family needs and the socioeconomic status of the potential mate, rather than love or attraction. Although the woman's role varied slightly depending on the social status of the husband, typically her main duty was to provide a son in order to continue the family name.
An arranged marriage was accomplished by a matchmaker who acted as a link between two families. The arrangement of a marriage involved the negotiation of a bride price, gifts to be bestowed to the bride's family, and occasionally a dowry of clothing, furniture, or jewelry from the family of the bride for use in her new home. The exchange of monetary compensation for a woman's hand in marriage was also utilized in purchase marriages in which women were seen as property that could be sold and traded at the husband's whim.
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