Gender Inequality in China
Gender inequality is a topic that I have found very noticeable in what I have learned about China. Gender inequality is unequal treatment of individuals based on gender. In this case, and in most cases, woman get the unfair treatment. Gender inequality in China stems back to an ancient way of thinking. The Chinese always valued men more than woman because they got to carry on the family name, and worked harder. Today we are in the 21st century and in most parts of the world a woman can do a "mans job" just fine, but in China people are still struggling with that change.
When the Communist party in China took up mass mobilization Chairman Mao had a famous saying, "Woman hold up half the sky". Even with this said men continued to use an old stereotype. Women were still expected to stay at home and cook, clean, and take care of the children. Although China's economy is still growing, more and more women are dropping out of the workforce due to these unfair stereotypes. Women in China aren't accepted as successful business woman and it is very, very hard to climb that ladder and become one.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/21/opinion/global/chinas-entrenched-gender-gap.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/21/opinion/global/chinas-entrenched-gender-gap.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&
“The truth is that, even with equal educational opportunities, not all women have equal upbringing opportunities" says Han Jian regarding the statistics of woman in elementary and higher education in China. He Zhenhong adds, “It seems we have different criteria to assess a man and a woman”. It has been proven in China that women who are successful enough to even enter the workplace face gender inequality in promotions and pay. Many Europeans and Chinese alike have agreed that gender inequality in the workplace is a big issue and should be sorted out by establishing gender legislation.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/china-fights-gender-inequality-workplace
http://www.neurope.eu/article/china-fights-gender-inequality-workplace
The Constitution of Peoples Republic of China states that all citizens are equal and that woman are not to be discriminated to in any way. WIth that said, employment discrimination is still widely tolerated in most every workplace in China, including, ironically enough, government workplaces. These laws are not enforced and have many technical shortcomings. The practice of gender based pay in workplaces is widespread in China and women have to do much more work to get the same pay a man would in the same role. Although some job descriptions do not have a gender preference, many higher ups in these companies make it clear that they want men and not women.
http://www.clb.org.hk/en/content/employment-discrimination-china#gender
http://www.clb.org.hk/en/content/employment-discrimination-china#gender
In China in 1982, 108 boys were born for every 100 girls. Today 118 boys are born for every 100 girls. Not only does China discriminate against females in the workplace, but due to China's "One child policy" many baby girls are aborted, murdered, abandoned, or put up for adoption. The reason many parents would do this to their own child is because the husband does not want a girl, and will leave the wife if they have a daughter. Another reason for these tragic events is because people want their family name to live on, or they want a boy who will have an easier time getting a good job and pay. This has not only been a huge example of gender equality in China, but also has resulted in a huge spike in gender imbalance.
http://www.unicefchina.org/en/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=lists&catid=135
http://www.unicefchina.org/en/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=lists&catid=135