Engels’ Thought of Women’s Emancipation and Its Contemporary Value

Women’s emancipation is not only the focus of feminism, but also a major issue related to social development. Women’s emancipation is an organic part of human emancipation. Without women’s emancipation, there will be no all-round and free development of all people. In 1884, Engels published the Origin of Family, Private Ownership and the State. Starting from the analysis of ancient society, Engels discussed the changes of women’s social status and the causes of such changes from the perspective of historical materialism. The revolutionary and scientific character of Engels’ theory of women’s emancipation provides precious ideological source and spiritual support for enriching socialist women’s theory with Chinese characteristics and actively promoting women’s emancipation and development in the 21st century.