It is no surprise that throughout the years of history, there have been many inequalities towards different genders, different races, and even different ages. Women till this day cannot vote, and many injustices are still happening in the African- American community. Revolutions were no exception to these injustices and failure of equality. Many social and political movements within Revolutions have been heavily centered and focused on economic issues within a society, and have failed to acknowledge that the foundation of the country, the inequalities between the people themselves, need to fixed as well. In the cases of the American, Cuban, and Chinese Revolutions, the focus on economic issues and the denial of the need for other rights is the cause that impeded racial and gender equality.
One of the most famous revolutions known to any resident of the United States is of course the American Revolution. Taking place in the year of 1781, Americans began to take charge of their own lands seeking freedom from its British rule and setting about establishing its own government. The reason for this revolution, like many others that will precede it is as guessed – simply economic. Americans were tired of their economy being completely owned and controlled by the British, the high taxes, and the overall state of poverty that they were left in after any profits made were taken away. No regard was made for the inequality of women. No movement was started to end slavery. The revolution took its course and succeeded, resulting in victory and independence from Britain, yet still nothing was done for the racial and gender inequalities. Though the Revolution was so focused and intent on this idea of freedom, even with the Declaration of Independence being created, the rules only benefited the economy, and those who wrote the law ; white,wealthy men.
Another Revolution guilty of creating a movement for supposed equality but neglecting to acknowledge racial and gender inequalities is the Cuban Revolution. Led by Fidel Castro against the authoritarian government of Cuban President Fulgencio Batista in 1953, its original primary goal was to firstly rid of the already corrupt government. Cuba had many generally political and economic issues occuring revolving around the President and his ideas about communism. There were also issues of corruption within government officials and the profits going from Cuba’s top exports were sabotaged, leading to poverty and despair within the community. Cuba had many other economic issues. It had the highest per capita consumption rates of meat, vegetables, cereals, automobiles, telephones, and radios, yet one-third of the population was considered poor. The structure of the regime was what needed the most help, and everything else was disregarded.
Cuba however had many issues revolving around race. There was a lot of issues separating between Black and White Cubans. Black Cubans were not regarded as Cubans due to their skin color. They played an integral part in the revolution yet were disregarded their rights. Women faced the same issues. They were half of the population, yet were not treated as such. Hope for that to change emerged with the takeover of Fidel Castro. In 1962, he proclaimed the Second Declaration of Havana, which asserted that racial and gender discrimination in Cuba have been abolished. Though the document did not intend to assert that all issues of race and gender had been fully resolved, it served as “reassurance” that these issues did not exist, thought they did and would continue for many years. The declaration lead to denial regarding racial and gender issues, but failed to actually address them or change conditions for the oppressed. It reaffirmed people that the government was on their side, but their lives did not change.
The Chinese Revolution started in 1949 by Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong who declared the creation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This time of power for Mao Zedong from 1949-1978 the Communist Party sought to change Chinese women’s status to be legally and socially equal to that of men. The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, which was enacted in 1954, explicitly stated that women and men should have equal rights. To promote gender equality, the Communist party promoted the slogan, “women hold up half the sky” to illustrate the importance of women for China’s growing economic success. All these efforts were made by the government to imply that gender inequalities were being addressed. However, this was just an appeasing tactic to maintain the peace. However there was still occupational segregation and women were not even allowed to work certain jobs. In practice, till this day women do not have equal rights in China, and equal pay does not exist.
Originally published 15.10.2019