This book investigates the historical development and practical application of the Chinese Communist Party's policies regarding women's liberation during the revolutionary era. Delia Davin, a scholar specializing in Chinese social history, utilizes archival records and party documents to analyze how the early CCP attempted to mobilize women. The work examines the tension between theoretical goals of gender equality and the pragmatic requirements of party building and national revolution.

Scholars of modern Chinese history frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of gender and revolutionary politics. Readers often note the academic rigor and the detailed archival research that characterizes Davin's analysis of party doctrine.