I am surprised people didn't know there was a women's movement. If you look at the movement just by itself, the transformation of women's standing in the society and culture before and after is massive. Comparing across the global, it is still one of the largest transformations. But prephas it is all buried in the ccp, communism, and mao, all that bad rep. What actually caused, triggered, happened in the Chinese revolution between 1930 to 1960s is never talked about, never being looked at objectively. Only those who lived through that history, personally experienced it, knew the good, the bad, the legit and craziness. The world is not black and white. Things always happen for a reason. Before my grandma passed away, she had a portrait of mao in her home. And talked fondly of what ccp meant to her and the changes it brought to her life.
Communism requires equality, there was no independent women’s movement. Your families experience as you described corroborates that.
To strengthen my point: how many women are in political leadership positions? People’s Congress looks very male heavy…100%? communism brought equal participation, but didn’t stop patriarchy.
It started at the end of Qing dynasty and continued with up and downs until Chiang's China. You are also right too that communism naturally calls for equality between man and woman.