Women, Society and Elite Sport in the First Decade of Economic Reform (1977-89)

Mao’s death in September 1976 marked the end of an era. China began to bring order out of chaos.1 Fundamental changes, however, did not occur until the pivotal third plenum of the eleventh Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party on 22 December 1978.2 Thereafter, the Party broke away from the long and crushing bondage of ‘leftist’ practice and embraced pragmatic economic and social reforms.3 At this momentous turning point in modern Chinese history, Chinese athletes took part in the eighth Asian Games in Bangkok and won 12 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze medals. Sport became an immediate window to the world, through which China’s changing image was reflected.