Feminism+Communism

I really enjoyed reading about the evolution of feminism after the rise of communism. The changes brought on by communism promoted efforts to liberate and mobilize women. In Russia, many of the laws that were being brought to the government's attention were regarding full legal and political equality for women, marriage had become a civil procedure, divorse was legalized, illigitimacy was overruled, women didn't have to take their husbands sur-names, pregnancy leaves for working women, and women were becoming involved in the country's movement of industrialization. The leaders of Zhenotdel, which was an all women organization, really helped push the women's movements in the 1920's. From conferences to training to muslim women being able to take off their veils, it was all moving in a positive direction until the male communists ruled against it and the leader at the time, Stalin abolished Zhenotdel. China came around with the marriage law of 1950 which promoted easy divorce, free choice in marriage, etc. With help from the CCP they tried to apply the changes, and also helped to create the Women's Federation.