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Cadres, grain, and sexual abuse in Wuwei County, Mao's China

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

Abstract

Primarily based on official archives produced from Mao's China in the mid-1950s to 1963 in Wuwei County, Anhui Province, this article explores sexual abuse carried out by local cadres of the Chinese Communist Party around the time of Mao's Great Famine (1958-1961). It first clarifies key concepts of sexual abuse and then reviews the crucial role of grain in many sexual cases. Further efforts are made to discuss the female victims, male perpetrators, and institutional factors of these crimes. A series of political, economic, and social policies, systems, and movements of highly centralized governance set up institutional traps for disadvantaged female victims who were "liberated" from traditional households. Supplemented with other local cases, the article argues that the overlap of state patriarchy and the authoritarian party-state made women vulnerable to local cadres and institutionalized sexual abuse. The case of Wuwei indicates that Mao's regime was yet another form of gender domination. © 2016 Journal of Women's History.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33-57
JournalJournal of Women's History
Volume28
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2016
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 1 - No Poverty
    SDG 1 No Poverty
  2. SDG 5 - Gender Equality
    SDG 5 Gender Equality
  3. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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