REVOLUTIONIZING CHILDHOOD: The Public Child and the Making of the New Socialist Person in China (1949–1976)

Children and youth were central to the Communist vision of radically transforming economic, social, and political systems and creating a “new socialist person” with proper class consciousness and devotion to collective needs. The chapter examines how these ideals shaped government programs, children’s subjectivities, and their everyday lives in China of the Maoist era (1949–1976), particularly during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). The discussion highlights two concepts of childhood under Maoism: the “public child,” seen as belonging to society and the state rather than just the family, and the “active child,” expected to participate in social and political life from an early age. These notions were part of a broader effort to redefine the relationships between state and family, children and adults. In China and other Communist countries, this ambition was only partly realized. While socialism brought significant changes to childcare, education, and the social status of children, attempts to shift the family’s role in childrearing and involve children more deeply in politics were limited by material shortages and inconsistent policies. Some state programs preserved old norms or neglected children’s well-being. Others were inhibited by contradictory perceptions of gender roles and public-private boundaries, ultimately undermining the Communist project.