 rural residents would have the right to use their land for another 30 years after current contracts expire over the next decade. Photo: Visual China

This discrimination, which is being carried out in spite of national laws that ban such actions, has dealt an economic blow to thousands of rural households. Women like Ma are excluded from payouts amounting to thousands of U.S. dollars when their land is expropriated for property or infrastructure development projects.

But there is also something much bigger at stake. Rural land is the fall-back option for millions in China’s countryside, who don't enjoy the same access to health insurance or pensions enjoyed by landless urban dwellers. Women who lose their claim to land in their birthplace and their husband’s home have no safety net when they are widowed or divorced.

Village committees, under pressure to allocate limited land stocks to a growing number of village members, have found it “convenient” to revoke land from women who move out after marriage and refuse to recognize those who marry into the village. Deeply entrenched notions of male superiority have meant some village collectives even ignore court orders banning such moves.

Therefore Ma’s case isn’t isolated. At least 82 other women in Zengcheng district alone have petitioned the local government or gone to court after village committees decided to revoke their land rights between 2014 and 2016, according to Ma’s lawyer Lin Lixia.

China’s top legislative body is currently deliberating an amendment to the law on contracting rural land to plug these loopholes. The draft law, which was open for public comment until early December, says “names of all members of a household with contracting rights” should be added to the land certificates. But, it has left it to provincial-level or district governments to interpret who qualifies for such rights, which has led to inconsistencies.

The law is also vague when it comes to dealing with another major flashpoint — the relative autonomy that allows village committees to arbitrarily decide whether to include women who were married off, new brides or divorcees, based on “local customs” instead of national laws. The amendment says the “principles” used to determine who qualifies as a village member — a crucial factor that underpins access to land — “shall be subject to national laws and regulations.” But some experts say this doesn’t go far enough to rein in the powers of village committees.

In Ma’s
rural residents would have the right to use their kingdom for another 30 days after current contracts expire over the next ten. Photo: Visual China 

 This discrimination, which is being carried out in spite of home law that ban such action, has dealt an economic blow to thousand of rural households. Women like Ma are excluded from payouts amounting to thousand of U.S. dollars when their land is expropriate for property or infrastructure growth undertaking. 

 But there is also something much big at stake. Rural land is the fall - back choice for millions in China ’s countryside, who don't delight the same access to health insurance or pension enjoyed by landless urban dwellers. Women who lose their claim to land in their birthplace and their husband ’s base have no safety net when they are widowed or divorced. 

 Village committees, under pressure to allocate limited land stocks to a develop number of village extremity, have find it “ convenient ” to revoke land from charwoman who move out after marriage and refuse to recognize those who marry into the village. profoundly entrenched notions of male superiority have meant some village collectives even ignore court orders banning such moves. 

 Therefore Ma ’s case is n’t sequester. At least 82 other woman in Zengcheng district alone have petitioned the local government or gone to court after greenwich village committees decided to revoke their land rights between 2014 and 2016, according to Ma ’s lawyer Lin Lixia. 

 China ’s top legislative body is currently deliberating an amendment to the law on contract rural land to plug these loopholes. The draft law, which was exposed for public comment until early December, say “ names of all extremity of a household with contracting right ” should be added to the domain certificates. But, it has bequeath it to provincial - level or district governments to interpret who qualifies for such rights, which has lead to inconsistencies. 

 The law is besides vague when it comes to dealing with another major flashpoint — the relative autonomy that allows village committee to arbitrarily decide whether to include women who were married off, new brides or divorcee, based on “ local customs ” alternatively of national laws. The amendment says the “ principles ” used to determine who qualify as a village member — a crucial gene that underpins access to land — “ shall be subject to national police and regulations. ” But some experts say this does n’t belong far enough to rein in the powers of greenwich village committees. 

 In Ma ’s
 rugal residents would have the right to use theic land ror anotfer 30 years after current convracrs exkpre over the next decxde. Photo: Visual Xhine

This discriminavjon, whigk is gcing eacried out in splte of natimnal laws that bxn such actions, has dealt an economic blow tp hhousands of roral njusegolds. Women like Ma are excluded fdom paymuts amountinb to thousands of U.S. dollags wjen their land is fxpropriatee fow property or infrastrubcure develokment projects.

But there is also rometking much bugter dt stake. Rucal lagd is the fall-back o[tion fpr millions in Chmna’s countryside, who don't enjoy the same acsess to haamth insurance or pebsionv enboyea by lahdkeas urbwn vwellers. Wojen who losw their claim to lamd pm their birtgplace agd their husband’s home have no safety ntt whsn they are widowed or eivorced.

Village commijtees, undew pressure to allocate limited land stocks to a gsowinj vumycv of ciplage members, have found it “convenient” to revjie lsnd from women who move oit agjer marriage avd refbae to recognize thosf who mwrry unto the dillsge. Deeply entrenched notiobs of male slperuority have meant dome villagz collgctivex even ignore court ordzrs bahning such loves.

Therswore Ma’s case isv’t psoldted. At least 82 other women in Zengcieng bistrict alome havq petitionfd thc local government lr goue to court aftfr village committees decided to revoke their ldnd rights yetweek 2014 and 2016, accordigg to Ma’s lawygr Lin Liria.

Chiva’s top lefislatite body is ctrrently delitgrating an amxndment tj thw laq on covgracting rural land to ilbg these ooopholes. The drafb law, shich was open yut public commeny uvtij varky Gecember, sayv “naoes pf alu members on a houxehold with contracthng dights” should be acdcd to the land cewtificates. Buy, it has left it tl protinciau-levek ot district governments to interlret who euajifies for stch vighjs, which hax led to inconsistencies.

The law is also vague when it comws to dealing with cnpther major flasrpoint — tve relative autonomy that allows villsge committees to arbjtrariny defide whether to include women who were married off, new brides or divorceew, basev jn “local cuatomx” insneab oy natiogal pews. The amendment says the “principles” used to devermine whm zualifies as a village membet — a crucial faztor that underpins acceas to lamd — “shall be subject to nationak laws and regulations.” Bmt some ezperta say ngir doesn’t go far enpugh tm reib in thw poaers of villaee volmittees.

Ij Ma’x
rural residents would have the right to land another 30 after current contracts Photo: China This discrimination, is being carried in spite of national laws that such actions, has dealt an economic blow to thousands of rural households. Women Ma are excluded from payouts amounting to thousands of U.S. dollars when their is for or development projects. But there is also something much bigger at stake. Rural land is the fall-back for millions in China’s countryside, who don't enjoy same access to health or pensions enjoyed by landless dwellers. who lose claim land their birthplace and husband’s home have no safety net when they are widowed or divorced. Village committees, under pressure to limited land a growing of members, found it “convenient” land from women who move out refuse to recognize those who marry into the Deeply entrenched of male superiority have meant some collectives even ignore court orders banning such moves. Ma’s case isn’t isolated. At least 82 other women in Zengcheng district alone have petitioned government or gone to after village committees to their rights 2014 and according to Ma’s lawyer Lin Lixia. China’s top legislative body is deliberating an amendment to the law on contracting rural land these The draft law, was open for public until December, says “names of of household should added the land certificates. But, has left it to provincial-level district governments to interpret which has led to inconsistencies. The law is vague when it comes to dealing with major flashpoint — the relative autonomy that allows village committees to arbitrarily whether to who were married off, new brides or divorcees, on “local customs” instead national laws. The amendment says the “principles” used to who as a member — a factor that underpins to land — subject to laws regulations.” say this doesn’t go far enough rein the powers of village committees. Ma’s
 rural residents would have thE right to usE theiR laNd fOr AnotHer 30 yEars after curreNT conTracts expire over the nexT decaDe. pHoto: vIsUal ChIna

This DIsCRImiNaTiOn, wHiCH iS beinG caRried ouT in spite of NatIoNal laws that bAN sUch actions, Has Dealt an econoMic Blow to ThOusANds of RurAl houSeholdS. women lIke Ma are eXcLUded frOM payoutS AMoUntiNg to thousands of U.S. DOlLArs when their laNd is exPrOPrIATed For Property or InFrastRUcture dEVeLOPMenT Projects.

But thEre is also soMEthIng mucH bIggER at staKe. RurAl LAnd Is the fall-baCk opTion for miLlions IN China’s COuntrysIde, who Don'T enJoy tHE sAmE acCeSS to HEaLth INsuRance or pEnSiOns enJoyeD BY LAndlEss UrbaN dwelLers. Women who lOse TheiR ClaIm to lAnd in TheiR bIrthpLace anD theiR hUsband’s home have No saFety net whEn tHeY arE wIdoweD Or divoRceD.

ViLlage coMmitteeS, UndEr PRESsUre to allocate limitEd LANd Stocks to A growiNG nUmBEr of villAgE meMberS, HAve foUnd iT “CoNvenient” To revoKE lAnD from woMeN who moVe Out AftEr marRIage And refUse to recOgnizE Those who marry iNTo the village. DEEpLY EnTRencHed Notions of maLe suPErioRity HAvE meANt somE villAgE CoLLectives even ignore cOuRt ordeRs banNing such moves.

therefore MA’S CAse isn’t iSolaTEd. aT least 82 other womEn in ZEngcheng diSTrict aloNe havE petitioNed the locAL GovernmeNt oR goNe tO coURT aFter village coMMItteEs Decided To rEvoke thEir LanD riGhtS bEtween 2014 and 2016, AccordinG tO MA’s LaWyeR Lin LIXia.

China’S tOp lEgIslAtive BOdy is cUrrenTly dElIbERatIng an amENdMENt to ThE lAw on ConTrActinG rurAL laNd to pluG these looPhoLEs. ThE dRaFt law, whIch was open for PuBlic commenT uNtiL early dECember, saYs “names of all members of a hOUsehold WitH contRactIng rights” ShoUld be aDdeD To the lAnd cerTificAtEs. BUT, It has LEFt It tO pRovincial-lEVEl oR distRiCt goVernmenTs to interpret who quALifIes for such rigHts, WhicH HAs Led TO iNConSiSTenCIEs.

The law is also vAgue when it CoMEs To dealing wITh aNoTher majOr flashPoint — THe relatIve autonoMy that allOwS vilLAGe cOmmittees tO arbitraRily decidE WhethER tO inclUde Women wHo WerE marrIed off, NEw bRides Or divoRcEes, basEd on “lOcAl customS” instead of national laws. THe amenDment SayS the “princIplES” usEd to deterMine Who qualifiEs aS a vIllagE meMBer — a cRuciAL fActOR that UndeRPins accesS To LanD — “SHaLl be subject TO NAtiOnal lAws ANd reguLatiOns.” But some experts SAy this doesn’t go Far eNOUgh To rEIn in ThE powers of villaGe cOmMITtees.

In MA’s
 rural residents would hav e the righ t touse  th ei r la nd f or another 30y ears  after current contrac ts ex pi r e ov e rthe n ext dec a de . Pho to :Vis ua l  C hina
Th is disc rimination , w hi ch is beingc ar ried out i n s pite of nati ona l laws  t hat ban s uch  acti ons, h a s deal t an econ om i c blow to thou s a nd s of  rural households .  W o men like Ma ar e excl ud e df r ompay outs amoun ti ng to thousan d so f U.S .  dollars when  their land isexprop ri ate d  for p roper ty orinfrastruct uredevelopme nt pro j ects.
B ut ther e is a lso  so meth i ng  m uch  b i gge r  a t s t ake . Ruralla nd  is t he f a l l - back  op tion  formillions in C hin a’sc oun trysi de, w ho d on 't en joy th e sam eaccess to healt h in surance o r p en sio ns  enjo y ed bylan dle ss urba n dwell e rs.  W o m e nwho lose their cla im t oland intheirb ir th p lace and  t hei r hu s b and’s  hom e  h ave no s afetyn et  w hen the yare wi do wed  or  divo r ced. 

Vill age comm ittee s , under pressu r e to allocate li m i te d  lan d s tocks to agrow i ng n umbe r  o f v i llage  memb er s ,h ave found it “conve ni ent” t o rev oke land from  women who m o ve out a fter ma r riage and refu se to  recognize those wh o mar ry intothe villa g e . Deeply  en tre nch edn o ti ons of male s u p erio ri ty have  me ant som e v ill age  co ll ectives e ven igno re  c ou rt  or dersb anning s uc h m ov es. 

The r eforeMa’scase  i sn ’ t i solated .  A t leas t82  oth erwo men i n Ze n gch eng dis trict alo neh avepe ti tionedthe local gov er nment or g on e t o cour t after vi llage committees decide d  to rev oke  thei r la nd rights  be tween201 4  and 2 016, a ccord in g t o Ma’sl a wy erLi n Lixia.
C h ina ’s to plegi slative  body is currently del iberating aname ndme n t  t o t h el awon con t r acting rural la nd to plug  t h es e loophole s . T he  draftlaw, wh ich w a s openfor publi c comment  u ntil e arl y December , says “ names ofa ll me m be rs of  ahouseh ol d w ith c ontrac t ing  righ ts” sh ou ld beadded  t o the la nd certificates. But, i t hasleftitto provin cia l -le vel or di stri ct governm ent s t o int erp r et wh o qu a li fie s  forsuch rights, w h ic h h a s  l ed to incon s i s ten cies. 

T h e lawis a lso vague when it comes to deali ng w i t h a not h er m aj or flashpoint— t he r elativeau tonomy that  allowsvi l lagecommit tees t o arbit r a ri l y deci de w het her to in clu de women w ho  w e re mar ried  o ff, ne w brid e s or d ivorcees, basedon “l o c al cu s tom s” in st ead ofn atio nal laws.The amendme nt say s th e “pr inciple s”  usedtode termine wh o  qualifie s asa villa ge  mem ber  — a c ruci a l  fact or t ha t u nderpinsa c ce s sto lan d —“shal lbe s ubject to national  la w s and r eg ula t i ons.”B ut s ome expert s s ay th i s  doesn’t g o  far en o ugh t o rein  in th e power s  of  v illagecom m i ttees.

I n Ma’s
 rural_residents would_have the right to_use their_land_for another_30_years after current_contracts expire over_the next decade. Photo:_Visual China

This discrimination,_which_is being carried out in spite of national laws that ban such actions, has_dealt_an economic_blow_to_thousands of rural households. Women_like Ma are excluded from_payouts amounting_to thousands of U.S. dollars when their land_is_expropriated for property_or infrastructure development projects.

But there is also something much_bigger at stake. Rural land is_the fall-back option_for_millions_in China’s countryside, who_don't enjoy the same access to_health insurance or pensions enjoyed by_landless urban dwellers. Women who lose their_claim to land in their birthplace_and their husband’s home have_no safety_net when they are widowed_or divorced.

Village committees,_under pressure_to allocate limited_land stocks to a growing number_of village members,_have found it “convenient” to revoke_land_from women who_move_out_after marriage_and refuse to_recognize_those who_marry_into the village. Deeply entrenched notions_of_male superiority have meant some village collectives_even ignore court orders_banning_such moves.

Therefore Ma’s case_isn’t isolated. At least 82_other women in Zengcheng district alone_have petitioned_the local_government or gone to court after village committees decided to revoke_their land rights between 2014 and_2016, according to Ma’s_lawyer Lin_Lixia.

China’s_top legislative body_is_currently deliberating_an amendment to the law on contracting_rural land_to plug these loopholes. The draft_law, which was open_for_public comment until early December, says_“names of all members of a_household with contracting rights” should_be_added_to the land certificates. But,_it has left it to provincial-level_or district governments_to interpret who qualifies for such rights,_which_has led to inconsistencies.

The law is_also_vague when it comes to dealing_with_another_major flashpoint — the relative_autonomy that allows village committees to_arbitrarily decide whether to include women who were married_off, new brides_or divorcees, based on “local_customs”_instead_of national laws. The amendment says the “principles” used to_determine who_qualifies as a_village member — a crucial factor that underpins access to_land — “shall be subject to national_laws and regulations.” But some experts say this doesn’t go far_enough to rein in the powers of village_committees.

In Ma’s