Abstract
Using a historical approach, the chapter examines the process of state–family integration under state socialism during the Mao era (1949–1978). More specifically, it depicts ways in which patriarchal families have been transformed in an egalitarian direction, and the state has been molded into a paternalistic system exercising tight control over the economic and political lives of families while providing extensive social welfare benefits to urban families and forging common interests. It also discusses how the state has transformed gender and class both within and outside the family without weakening families as intact reproductive units. The cultural notion of obligation equality is introduced in this chapter to help the reader better understand China’s unique contours in gender and class transformation processes.
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Notes
- 1.
In rural areas, by contrast, peasant families, although also organized by communes as part of collective units, received very few welfare benefits from the state during the Mao era, given the state’s priority for industrialization conducted in urban areas.
- 2.
These five sets of tentative regulations were: Compensations for the Families of Deceased Revolutionary Service People; Preferential Treatments of Family Members of Revolutionary Martyrs and of Revolutionary Service People; Preferential Treatments of and Compensations for Disabled Service People; Compensations for Disabled and Deceased Revolutionaries; and Compensations for Disabled and Deceased People’s Militia and Public-Project Laborers.
- 3.
It was called The Announcement of Issues concerning Improving the Labor Insurance and Medical System.The Announcement increased the proportion of medical expenses to be paid by workers. For example, it asked workers to pay for doctors’ visits.
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Zuo, J. (2016). Equalizing Gender and Class. In: Work and Family in Urban China. Politics and Development of Contemporary China. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55465-9_2
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