Marriage Law, 1950

What was the Marriage Law?

The Marriage Law was a series of reforms to the laws of marriage in China.

When was the Marriage Law introduced?

The Marriage Law was introduced in 1950, a year into the First Five Year Plan.

Why was the Marriage Law introduced?

Before the Marriage Law, women did not have equal rights and were treated as being lesser than men. For Mao's communist society to succeed, he needed to ensure everyone was seen as equal.

What were the key features of the Marriage Law?

The Marriage Law outlined 6 requirements:

• ❖ Arranged marriages were banned, along with dowries. If you were in an arranged marriage, then you were given the opportunity to divorce.
• ❖ The age of marriage was raised. Males had to be 20 years old and females 18 years old in order to get married.
• ❖ It was forbidden for men to have mistresses as well as a wife.
• ❖ Divorce rights were made accessible and equal to both men and women.
• ❖ Women were given equal property rights, allowing them to buy and sell property.
• ❖ Infanticide was banned. This was a particular issue with baby girls as, under the previous system, they were seen as expensive due to marriage dowry payments.