Study Of Modern Guangdong Women's Rights

In the 1920-1930s, the movement of Canton women seeking rights was one of important parts of seeking"human rights"in China. It brought about profound influence to Canton women's political, economic, cultural rights and social status. To make clear the relevant condition of Canton women's rights is beneficial for us to master the change of women's rights and basic characteristics and we can also see its defects clearly. At last we can learn much from Canton women's rights history and make the best use of it to serve the contemporary construction of human rights.The author discussed the condition of Canton women's seeking rights movement and reflected the characteristics of Canton women's rights. The paper can be divided into seven parts.In chapter one the author probed into the background of women's rights, pointed out that on the one hand, it was the result of modern Chinese economy development, on the other hand, it was the product of modern Chinese trend of thought of"human rights"influenced by western countries and at the same time, the author tried to find the internal factors of Chinese traditional society and think the anti-traditional factors provide the native resources for the producing of women's rights.In chapter two the author expounded Canton women's educational rights, traced back the relevant condition of women's educational rights, analyzed the background of Canton women's educational rights, pointed out that in Guangdong there was a relatively good media and political environment under which different kinds of women schools arose. However the women's education in cities is more concerned than the condition in country and that public power tried to infiltrate women's education.In chapter three the author clarified the efforts to get the economic rights. The author expounded the possibility and necessity of Canton women getting economic rights, analyzed"the women combing by themselves"from the point of view of economy, probed into the pursuit of labor, the right of equal work, property right and the economic rights contained in"Women Movement Draft Resolution","Factory Law"and"Law of Succession"in Civil Code gotten by Canton women through the leading of Guomindang Party; however the Chinese Communist Party propagated women's economic rights, strengthened uniting women in work and led the women to striking for economic interests.In chapter four the author analyzed the condition of Canton women striving for marriage freedom and equality, pointed out that it occurred under the whole national background. The author analyzed the corrupt customs in traditional Canton marriage, pointed out that the Chinese Communist Party adopted relatively radical policy in order to get the support from women, clarified that Guomindang Party maintained the freedom of marriage and divorce and pointed out the practical change against marriage freedom and equality in Canton to yield to the social practical necessity. At last the author clarified the standard marriage ceremony was advocated to get the marriage freedom and equality.In chapter five the author focused on discussing the situation Canton women took part in the politics, pointed out that the situation Canton women participated in politics is sophisticated, clarified the Canton women's active attitude of support to"Guomin Revolution"and active participation in National Conference and the running for deputies of National Congress, analyzed the change of women association rights from being supported to being limited by Guomindang in order to maintain its interests. At last the author clarified that Chinese Communist Party mobilized the women to participate in politics, organized Red Union and encouraged women to take part in political power..In chapter six, the author analyzed the rights the special women group should have. There are many special group women in modern Canton, including servant-girls, prostitutes, blind women and the drowned girls etc. The author analyzed the necessity abolishing the institutions of servant-girls and prostitutes, clarified the lists of measures such as persuading, liberating, making a remedy and penalizing adopted by the government to serve the abolishing of servant-girls, construct a great momentum to be against legal prostitue and analyzed the efforts taken to save blind women and forbid drowning girls and pointed out the strict process is beneficial to guaranteeing special group women's rights.In the ending part, the author made a summary. Firstly the author pointed out that Canton women in 1920s-1930s made more legal success compared with before and emphasized that there was a big distance between practical rights and legal rights and the influence exists until now; secondly the author pointed out that the movement for Canton women's rights lacked of unitary organization and leading; thirdly the author emphasized the movement for modern Canton women's rights was subordinate to national revolution and democratic revolution, had instrumental value and at last served the necessity for political party's interests; at last the author pointed out although the movement for Canton women's rights had the characteristics of male as had in other places in China, it was to some extent weakened .