This is a rant that has been brewing for a while.
China, on the whole, does rather well compared to countries with faintly similar twentieth century history for sexism (well, India. Yes, I am aware the two are really not that alike). One of the advantages of a reform movement which completely rejected the past, and one of the few better points of the CCP - perhaps a little swamped by a few of their other issues - is that they are reasonably progressive with regards to women's rights. At least on the surface, China trumpets the equality of women, and their right to careers on an equal footing with men. This message is occasionally undermined a little (search for pictures of the PLA's crack female regiment on parade, say, or the occasional city which believes appointing attractive female police officers will lead to the more harmonious resolution of disputes), but things could be worse.
Which its why it is so very disappointing to find that Chinese society appears full of a latent, creeping sexism, driven by the weight of family expectation. Young women are indeed expected to be highly educated, attend university, and find jobs post graduation. But they are also expected to find a husband, and come 30 odd years, expected to have children, thereby ensuring the continuation of the family name, and provision for when elderly... It is subtle, yet inexorable. Independent, highly talented women settle down, and abruptly find themselves expected to give birth, and having had children, to take a set back from their careers to concentrate on home life. It is assumed by all that they will be happy to do this, content with childraising, and a life revolving around the kitchen. The idea that they might prefer to let their husband do the child rearing, or return to their jobs appears semi-unthinkable. As a result, women tend to find themselves passed over for jobs, or promotions, as managers assume they will inevitably leave to have children. More and more women are being encouraged to marry well instead of working - find a man with a BMW, rather than acquire the BMW themselves. It is perhaps not coincidence a Chinese business recently started offering classes in 'How to Marry a Billionaire'.
It is currently making me quite angry. Especially for my student, who at 32, married, working for a research company and childless finds herself in a minority. She complains she has no-one to relate to, as all her friends already have children, and begins to wonder if she should too, to fill the emptiness in her life...
Rant over now, I think. For now.
China, on the whole, does rather well compared to countries with faintly similar twentieth century history for sexism (well, India. Yes, I am aware the two are really not that alike). One of the advantages of a reform movement which completely rejected the past, and one of the few better points of the CCP - perhaps a little swamped by a few of their other issues - is that they are reasonably progressive with regards to women's rights. At least on the surface, China trumpets the equality of women, and their right to careers on an equal footing with men. This message is occasionally undermined a little (search for pictures of the PLA's crack female regiment on parade, say, or the occasional city which believes appointing attractive female police officers will lead to the more harmonious resolution of disputes), but things could be worse.
Which its why it is so very disappointing to find that Chinese society appears full of a latent, creeping sexism, driven by the weight of family expectation. Young women are indeed expected to be highly educated, attend university, and find jobs post graduation. But they are also expected to find a husband, and come 30 odd years, expected to have children, thereby ensuring the continuation of the family name, and provision for when elderly... It is subtle, yet inexorable. Independent, highly talented women settle down, and abruptly find themselves expected to give birth, and having had children, to take a set back from their careers to concentrate on home life. It is assumed by all that they will be happy to do this, content with childraising, and a life revolving around the kitchen. The idea that they might prefer to let their husband do the child rearing, or return to their jobs appears semi-unthinkable. As a result, women tend to find themselves passed over for jobs, or promotions, as managers assume they will inevitably leave to have children. More and more women are being encouraged to marry well instead of working - find a man with a BMW, rather than acquire the BMW themselves. It is perhaps not coincidence a Chinese business recently started offering classes in 'How to Marry a Billionaire'.
It is currently making me quite angry. Especially for my student, who at 32, married, working for a research company and childless finds herself in a minority. She complains she has no-one to relate to, as all her friends already have children, and begins to wonder if she should too, to fill the emptiness in her life...
Rant over now, I think. For now.
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ReplyDeleteAnd meanwhile, people on Cantonese radio shows in HK and Vancouver sigh over the abundance of '港女', a stereotype of HK women who are only interested in rich men.
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You might cheer yourself up by watching the HK movie called 'Marry a Rich Man'/嫁個有錢人... it's hilarious. If a few years old.
(removed the earlier comment because I had misremembered the film title...)