The Great Practice of the Communist Party of China in Leading Women’s Liberation and Development

For over a hundred years, the Communist Party of China has consistently inscribed the achievement of women’s liberation and development and the realization of gender equality on its own banner of struggle, leading Chinese women’s liberation and development to historic achievements.

一百多年来，中国共产党始终坚持把实现妇女解放和发展、实现男女平等写在自身奋斗的旗帜上，领导中国妇女解放与发展取得了历史性成就。

The founding of the Communist Party of China gave Chinese women’s movement an entirely new complexion

中国共产党的成立使中国妇女运动展现出全新面貌

The founding of the Communist Party of China not only opened a new chapter in the Chinese proletarian revolution but also provided new theoretical guidance and practical pathways for the Chinese women’s liberation movement; from then on, the Chinese women’s movement displayed an entirely new complexion.

中国共产党的成立不仅开启了中国无产阶级革命的新篇章，也为中国妇女解放运动提供了新的理论指导和实践路径，中国妇女运动从此展现出全新的面貌。

First, there was a strong and capable leading core. From the Opium War to the eve of the May Fourth Movement, Chinese women’s liberation was constrained by the lack of a scientific theory and the necessary material conditions, and women’s social status was not fundamentally changed. After the founding of the CPC, it reorganized the All-China Women’s Federation, established the Party’s provisional central women’s organ, and founded *Women’s Voice*, giving women’s liberation an organizational foundation and a propaganda front. Second, there was a scientific theoretical foundation. The “Resolution on the Women’s Movement” adopted at the Second National Congress of the CPC used the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and methodology to explain the roots of women’s oppression and the relationship between women’s liberation and socialism, becoming the mark of the establishment of the Marxist view on women in China and laying the theoretical foundation for our Party’s leadership of women’s liberation. Third, there were clear and definite goals. Gender equality is the goal of women’s liberation and development; from the very beginning of its founding, the Party wrote the political proposition of gender equality into its manifesto. During the period of the Chinese Soviet Republic, the Party formulated the “Outline of the Constitution of the Chinese Soviet Republic,” the first to embody the principle of gender equality. [1]1 The May Fourth Movement (1919) was an anti-imperialist, anti-feudal cultural and political movement that is often seen as a precursor to the founding of the CPC. The Chinese Soviet Republic (1931–1937) was a revolutionary base area government established by the CPC in rural China before the full-scale war with Japan.

一是有了坚强有力的领导核心。从鸦片战争到五四运动前夕，中国妇女解放因缺乏科学的理论和必要的物质条件而受到限制，妇女的社会地位未能得到根本改变。中国共产党成立后，改组中华女界联合会，成立党的临时中央妇女机构，创办《妇女声》，使妇女解放有了组织基础和宣传阵地。二是有了科学的理论基础。中共二大通过的《关于妇女运动的决议案》用马克思主义的立场、观点和方法论对妇女受压迫的根源、妇女解放与社会主义的关系等进行阐释，成为马克思主义妇女观在中国确立的标志，为我们党领导妇女解放奠定了理论基础。三是有了清晰明确的奋斗目标。男女平等是妇女解放与发展的奋斗目标，党在成立伊始就将男女平等的政治主张写进宣言。党在中华苏维埃共和国时期就制定了第一部体现男女平等原则的《中华苏维埃共和国宪法大纲》。

The founding of the Communist Party of China was the great origin and fundamental turning point in the process of Chinese women’s liberation and development. The Party’s leadership of the women’s liberation movement powerfully promoted the Sinicization of Marxist theory on women, providing the initial and most fundamental guidance on the path for women’s liberation and development in New China.

中国共产党的成立，是中国妇女解放与发展进程的伟大原点与根本转折。党领导妇女解放运动，有力推动了马克思主义妇女理论的中国化，为新中国妇女解放和发展提供了最初的，也是最根本的道路指引。

The founding of New China laid the important cornerstone of Chinese women’s cause

新中国成立奠定中国妇女事业的重要基石

After the founding of New China, the Communist Party of China led the people of the whole country in establishing the socialist system, laying the important cornerstone of Chinese women’s cause, and the practice of women’s liberation and development entered a new stage.

新中国成立后，中国共产党领导全国人民确立了社会主义制度，奠定了中国妇女事业的重要基石，妇女解放和发展的实践进入新阶段。

First, a basic legal system safeguarding women’s rights was constructed. In May 1950, the first basic law promulgated after the founding of New China—the “Marriage Law of the People’s Republic of China”—was implemented, liberating the broad masses of women from the feudal marriage system. The 1950 “Land Reform Law of the People’s Republic of China,” the 1953 “Electoral Law of the National People’s Congress and Local People’s Congresses of the People’s Republic of China,” and the 1954 “Constitution of the People’s Republic of China” all explicitly stipulated that women enjoy equal rights with men in all respects, constructing a legal framework for safeguarding women’s basic rights and realizing gender equality. Second, the establishment of the Women’s Federation marked the entry of women’s liberation and development into a national, organized stage. From the founding of the All-China Democratic Women’s Federation to the formulation of the “Constitution of the All-China Women’s Federation,” and then to its renaming as the All-China Women’s Federation, Chinese women’s liberation and development completed the key transformation from spontaneous and scattered to unified, organized, and institutionalized operation. Third, women were led to participate in socialist construction. From the “Lüda Women’s Number” in the Resist US and Aid Korea campaign to the advanced women’s collectives such as the “Seven Sisters” and “Nine Orchid Group” that emerged in the construction of the Ming Tombs Reservoir, from the massive literacy campaign to the enthusiastic participation of female educated youth in going to the countryside, Chinese women threw themselves into socialist construction with unprecedented enthusiasm, becoming an indispensable and important force in the cause of socialist construction. [2]2 The Resist US and Aid Korea campaign (1950–1953) was China’s military intervention in the Korean War. The Ming Tombs Reservoir was a major water conservancy project built near Beijing in 1958, often cited as an example of mass mobilization under the early PRC.

一是构建起维护妇女权益的基本法律体系。1950年5月，新中国成立后颁布的第一部基本法——《中华人民共和国婚姻法》实施，将广大妇女从封建婚姻制度下解放出来。1950年《中华人民共和国土地改革法》、1953年《中华人民共和国全国人民代表大会及地方各级人民代表大会选举法》、1954年《中华人民共和国宪法》都明确规定妇女在各方面享有同男子平等的权利，构建起一个维护妇女基本权利、实现男女平等的法律框架。二是成立妇女联合会，标志着妇女的解放与发展进入全国性、组织化阶段。从中华全国民主妇女联合会成立到《中华人民共和国妇女联合会章程》的制定，再到更名为中华人民共和国妇女联合会，中国妇女解放与发展完成了从自发分散到统一化、组织化、制度化运作的关键转变。三是引领妇女投入社会主义建设。从抗美援朝运动中的“旅大妇女号”到十三陵水库建设中涌现出的“七姐妹”“九兰组”等妇女先进集体，从声势浩大的扫除文盲运动到女知青踊跃下乡，中国妇女以空前的热情投身社会主义建设中，成为社会主义建设事业中不可缺少的重要力量。

After the founding of New China, the Communist Party of China further elevated gender equality to the level of state will and legal norms, promoted women’s exit from the family and entry into society, and explored a path of women’s liberation and development practice with Chinese characteristics.

中国共产党在新中国成立之后，将男女平等进一步上升为国家意志和法律规范，推动妇女走出家庭、走向社会，探索出一条中国特色的妇女解放和发展实践之路。

Reform and opening up achieved new accomplishments in the comprehensive development of Chinese women

改革开放取得中国妇女全面发展新成就

After reform and opening up, Chinese women’s development faced new opportunities and challenges; the Communist Party of China promptly adjusted the focus of women’s work and opened a new journey of comprehensive development for women.

改革开放后，中国妇女发展面临新的机遇与挑战，中国共产党及时调整妇女工作重心，开启妇女全面发展的新征程。

First, a relatively complete system for safeguarding women’s rights and interests was formed. After reform and opening up, China successively promulgated and implemented the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests” and the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Maternal and Infant Health Care.” At the same time, the state increased the intensity of cracking down on crimes related to women through the criminal law, protected rural women’s land rights and interests through the Rural Land Contract Law, and guaranteed the right of girls to enroll in school through the Education Law, establishing a relatively complete system for safeguarding women’s rights and interests. Second, the concept of comprehensive development for women was established, and a women’s development system was constructed. Since the “Outline for the Development of Chinese Women” was formulated and released in 1995, it has been continuously implemented for three cycles; various regions and departments have established a women’s development system combining the national development outline, local development plans, and departmental efforts. Third, using the Women’s Federation organization as a lever, the level of women’s development was comprehensively raised. The 1978 “Constitution of the All-China Women’s Federation” defined the nature of the Women’s Federation organization as “the bridge linking the Party with the masses of women.” Subsequently, the All-China Women’s Federation conducted a survey on the social status of Chinese women every ten years, established the Chinese Women’s Research Association, and carried out a series of “Women’s” activities; women’s liberation and development opened a new chapter under the organization of the All-China Women’s Federation. Fourth, women were led to integrate into the great tide of economic development, opening a new chapter in global women’s cooperation. After reform and opening up, the proportion of women among employed persons in the whole society has long remained stable at over 40%, and a large number of outstanding female entrepreneurs and scientists have emerged, demonstrating the practical style of “holding up half the sky.” The programmatic documents adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing—the “Beijing Declaration” and the “Platform for Action”—marked that China was transforming the rich fruits of its domestic practice into wisdom and strength for promoting the global women’s cause. [3]3 The Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, was a major UN conference that produced the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global policy framework for gender equality.

一是形成较为完备的妇女权益保障制度。改革开放后，我国先后颁布实施《中华人民共和国妇女权益保障法》和《中华人民共和国母婴保健法》。同时，国家通过刑法加大了对与妇女相关犯罪活动的打击力度，通过农村土地承包法保护农村妇女土地权益，通过教育法保障女童入学权益，建立了较为完备的妇女权益保障制度。二是确立了妇女全面发展理念，构建起妇女发展体系。《中国妇女发展纲要》自1995年制定发布以来，已连续实施三个周期，各地区、各部门建立起国家发展纲要、地方发展规划和与部门相结合的妇女发展体系。三是以妇联组织为抓手，全面提升妇女发展水平。1978年通过的《中华全国妇女联合会章程》把妇联组织的性质明确为“党联系妇女群众的桥梁”。随后，全国妇联每十年开展一次中国妇女社会地位调查，成立中国妇女研究会，开展“巾帼”系列活动，妇女解放与发展在全国妇联的组织下揭开了新的篇章。四是引领妇女融入经济发展的时代洪流，开启全球妇女合作新篇章。改革开放后，全社会就业人员中女性比重长期稳定在四成以上，涌现出大批杰出的女性企业家和科学家，彰显了“半边天”的实干风采。在北京举办的联合国第四次世界妇女大会通过的纲领性文件《北京宣言》和《行动纲领》，标志着中国正将国内实践的丰硕成果转化为促进全球妇女事业发展的智慧与力量。

After reform and opening up, the Communist Party of China, through a series of fundamental, comprehensive, and stable institutional constructions and policy innovations, profoundly responded to the new demands placed on women by economic and social development and the new expectations of women’s own development.

改革开放后，中国共产党通过一系列根本性、全局性、稳定性的制度建构和政策创新，深刻回应了经济社会发展对妇女提出的新要求与妇女自身发展的新期待。

The New Era opens a new realm of high-quality development for women

新时代开创妇女高质量发展新境界

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to the high-quality development of women, promoting historic achievements and historic changes in the women’s cause. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Seize the opportunities of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, empower the high-quality development of women’s cause with scientific and technological innovation, support women in playing a greater role in green development, and strive to enable the broad masses of women to shine in life and realize their dreams in the great tide of world modernization.” [4]4 The 18th National Congress of the CPC, held in 2012, marked the beginning of the Xi Jinping era and the official proclamation of the “New Era” of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央高度重视妇女高质量发展，推动妇女事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革。习近平总书记指出：“把握新一轮科技革命和产业变革机遇，以科技创新赋能妇女事业高质量发展，支持妇女在绿色发展中发挥更大作用，努力让广大妇女在世界现代化的大潮中人生出彩、梦想成真。”

First, constructing a high-quality governance framework for safeguarding women’s rights and interests. The Anti-Domestic Violence Law of the People’s Republic of China was implemented in 2016, the Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China was implemented in 2021, action plans against human trafficking, human rights action plans, and employment promotion plans were issued and implemented, and the China Women’s Legal Aid Campaign was carried out. The Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests was comprehensively revised, establishing a relatively comprehensive legal framework for the protection of women’s rights and interests encompassing over one hundred laws and regulations. Second, striving to create a favorable environment conducive to women’s high-quality development. The Outline for the Development of Chinese Women (2011–2020) proposed gender equality review, and gender equality assessment mechanisms for regulations and policies were established at the national level and in various provinces and cities, ensuring a favorable development environment for women from the legislative root. The state also formulated the Reform Plan for the All-China Women’s Federation, and successively implemented a series of systems and measures, establishing a system that penetrates six levels [5]5 The “six levels” refer to the organizational hierarchy of the All-China Women’s Federation, which extends from the national level down through provincial, prefectural, county, township, and village (or community) levels, ensuring coverage across all administrative tiers. and covers various types of organizations and groups. The Women’s Federation organizations fully play their role as bridges and ties, providing organizational guarantees for women’s high-quality development. Third, providing momentum for promoting the high-quality development of women’s undertakings. To promote the high-quality development of women’s undertakings, the national level and various provinces and cities have introduced measures such as promoting equal employment for women, women’s entrepreneurship and employment, safeguarding women’s health, exploring “Internet+” entrepreneurship service actions, increasing the number of female cadres in leadership teams, and supporting the role of female scientific and technological talents. Fourth, injecting Chinese wisdom into promoting the development of global women’s undertakings. By initiating and hosting the Global Women’s Summit, China systematically put forward the strategically visionary “Four-Point Chinese Proposition” and the “Four-Point Proposal” for deepening cooperation, which not only effectively promoted mutual learning, exchanges, and practical cooperation among women’s organizations and talents from various countries, but also contributed feasible Chinese solutions to accelerating women’s development worldwide.

一是构建保障妇女权益的高质量治理格局。《中华人民共和国反家庭暴力法》于2016年实施，《中华人民共和国民法典》于2021年实施，反拐卖人口行动计划、人权行动计划、促就业规划等发布实施，中国妇女法律援助行动开展。全面修订妇女权益保障法，构建起涵盖百余部法律法规、较为全面的妇女权益保障法律框架。二是努力营造有利于妇女高质量发展的良好环境。《中国妇女发展纲要（2011—2020年）》提出性别平等审查，国家层面和各省市建立法规政策性别平等评估机制，从立法根源保障妇女的良好发展环境。国家还制定了《全国妇联改革方案》，并相继实施了一系列制度和办法，建立起贯通六级、覆盖各类组织和群体的体系，妇联组织充分发挥桥梁纽带作用，为妇女高质量发展提供组织保障。三是为推动妇女事业高质量发展提供动能。为促进妇女事业高质量发展，国家层面以及各省市出台了促进妇女平等就业、妇女创业就业、保障妇女健康、探索“互联网+”创业服务行动、增加领导班子中女干部数量、支持女性科技人才发挥作用等举措。四是为促进全球妇女事业发展注入中国智慧。中国通过倡议并主办全球妇女峰会，系统提出了具有战略视野的 “四点中国主张”与深化合作的“四点建议”，不仅有力促进了各国妇女组织与人才的互鉴交流、务实合作，更为世界范围内加速实现妇女发展贡献了切实可行的中国方案。

Reviewing the course of Chinese women’s liberation and development, the core code lies in: under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, promoting the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, transforming the universal truths of the Marxist view on women into action plans with the most realistic explanatory power at different historical stages, and integrating women’s liberation and development into the epochal propositions of national and ethnic development.

回顾中国妇女解放和发展历程，核心密码在于：在中国共产党领导下推动马克思主义的中国化时代化，将马克思主义妇女观的普遍真理转化为不同历史阶段最具现实解释力的行动方案，将妇女的解放与发展融入国家与民族发展的时代命题。

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “On the new journey, every woman is a writer of the times and a dream-chasing striver.” Today, Chinese women’s development has been integrated into the vivid practice of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and will continue to stimulate the historical initiative and creative potential of hundreds of millions of women, blooming with brilliance on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, and jointly composing a new chapter in the progress of human civilization.

习近平总书记强调：“新征程上，每一位妇女都是时代的书写人、追梦的奋斗者。”今天，中国妇女的发展已融入中华民族伟大复兴的生动实践，将持续激发亿万妇女的历史主动精神和创造潜能，在全面建设社会主义现代化国家的新征程中绽放光彩，共同谱写人类文明进步的新篇章！

(The authors are Lecturers at the School of Marxism, Shandong Women’s University.)

（作者系山东女子学院马克思主义学院讲师；山东女子学院马克思主义学院教授）