Family Structure in Revolutionary China

A detailed Summary of Family Structure in Revolutionary China

Family Structure in Revolutionary China

Political turmoil, loyalty to the party, reforms, and the escape from political scorn, tore the many Chinese families apart in the time of the Cultural Revolution; especially once the Great Leap Forward was enacted in 1957. As expresses in Liang Heng and Judith Shapiro's Son of the Revolution (1958-1981) the at home family life was not only difficult, but often didn't exist. The fact that ones actions could be accepted by society one day and could be criticized by it the next often lead to an untrusting nature that permeated the most sacred of societal relationships, including the home-front. The lack of structure in Liang's family was alluded to throughout the book, more specifically in the absence of family members; thus showing that family could make or break ones societal position.

After being urged and basically forced to express productive criticisms about her job, Heng's mother was sent away to be re-educated when the political party suddenly changed to an anti-rightist movement. The disgracing of ones name not only hurt the individual but created restrictions on other members of the family which would often lead to constant tormenting. "So perhaps inevitably, over the years, I

Finally, after a few years went by Heng's father gave in to societal pressures and remarried to a lady named Zhu Zhi-dao. Usually when two people get married they move in together and the new spouse has a huge input into the family's lives; but Zhi-dao was never really actually around to have a real influence on any of the children's lives. "So we waited and waited, but she was never there except on festivals and holidays, and then all she and father ever talked about was the question of her transfer" (34). Heng's step mother served more as a mother of convenience, but had no real maternal role. "She just didn't see us as her own children. Once I even overheard Liang Wei-ping ask her

for sanitary paper for her monthly and she was told to use newspaper instead" (197). Having a new legal mother allowed the family to gain some social status and she tried to make some minor changes in order to better the chances for survival in the constantly changing world. "It was her who changed my name to Liang Heng, "Liang Constant," to show that I was beginning a new life of stability and perseverance" (19). Not only did the children recognize that the marriage served only as a political reassurance, but Shan made sure that he informed his son of the importance of marrying for love and growing old together. "You must grow old together, be loyal to each other. Don't make the mistake that I did" (286). Revolutionary China had an interesting impact on family life that

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Approximate Word count = 984
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History