trialization as related to women. The paper will then conclude with an assessment of the degree of change and continuity in both the socio economic and political position of women within the larger ideological principles of Communist China.
In 1937, a woman by the name of Zhuang Ming wrote a poem that expressed the despair and determination felt by many Chinese women in the twentieth century:
Look, the iron hoofs of imperialism have pounded out soil:
Look, the black hands of feudalism are still threatening our sisters.
Come quickly, come quickly, come quickly and get rid of all these tigers and foxes, and sweep away all obstacles.
We, we, we are the free masters of our country, and not born slaves.
In general, on the positive side, the Maoist revolution has helped women by reducing and redirecting the dominance of male oriented society on women. The state itself has given more and more latitude toward women and women's groups, in particular a political action group called the Women's Association. This group, with many local committees articulating the needs of women all over the country, expresses women's interests "in various national political conclaves."5
In the same vein, there have been more and more opportunities for
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