 In Mao : A <unk> , American historian Lee Feigon argued that Mao 's experience with arranged marriage inspired him to become " a vehement advocate of women 's rights " in the late 1910s , as he began to write articles for the left @-@ wing press criticizing the traditional Chinese family system and arguing that love , rather than societal or family pressures , should be the primary determinant in marriage . This idea had previously been expressed by journalist and sinologist Clare Hollingworth . In their biography Mao : The Unknown Story , Jung Chang and Jon Halliday agreed , stating that it was this experience with Luo that turned Mao into a " fierce opponent " of arranged marriage . 
