Women in China

The sky’s the limit

But it’s not exactly heaven

See article

Readers' comments



I read many articles about the success of Chinese women. I do not wish to detract from the majority who work hard in the traditional sense to achieve career success however as someone happliy married to a successful Chinese woman I would like to point out a few facts.
Most of the 'Tiger Women' work in business environments that trade with provincial governments the military or other similar gov. organisation. These organisations spend huge amounts of money, suffer endemic corruption and are largely run by older men who subscribe to the historical Chinese culture of concubines (extra martial relationships). These highly successful women by in large share a common profile. They are usually divorced, (which has a whole lot of implications that do not exist in the west)Rich before their mid 40's, excellently networked with the old men making the critical decisions in the governmental spending bodies and they are all prepared to do whatever it takes to make money. If by now your are putting two and two together the unthinkable becomes apparent. Of course Chinese culture, especially around loss of face, would never allow this 'special' career advantage to be openly discussed.

livefromCA2 in reply to Xiaohuanglong

Kudos to you sir, that happily married to a successful Chinese woman means you know the facts about all the Chinese women in high position are single and as you tried to implicate provide sex favors to old man in military companies.

I think everybody can get a good laugh out of you. Then maybe not, maybe one would believe that a man providing a young attractive woman to "the old man who wants cocubine" of yours will be beaten by a 40 year old woman, yeah in America I am pretty sure such generalization will earn you a lot of names, but hey this is anything goes China. So do you mind which Chinese women in Fortune's most powerful women list subscribe to your description? (That is, someone like you even reads Fortune or cares about women)

Mumtaz Kherani

Its great so see what the china is doing for women. Women needs to work with man and uplift the economy of their country. I think policies and implementations in china is best in the world. One child policy is increasing the efficiency of the both man and women. China Rocks !


"Many Chinese men find it psychologically hard to cope with high-earning wives, and if something has to give it is usually the wife’s job. Women who are too stridently successful may have trouble finding a husband in the first place." It's sad that not only is it hard for women to reach high standings and support themselves, but that in their culture it is so intimidating to men.
I think it's horrible that women can't feel a since of pride for all of their hard work and a since of achievement. Now, they're made to question themselves if they are doing the right thing when they're successful?

Stephen Sims

It is great to see that China's women are making such great strides towards total equality. The opportunities they are being given speaks to why China is quickly becoming one of the most powerful countries in the world. If other countries were smart, they would take a leaf out of China's book.


obviously discrimination based on sex isn't solely a Chinese problem. From the base line that every where in the world experiences similar experiences that sets the bar from which countries are graded as being discriminatory or not. As mentioned in the article the government jobs were more likely to hold a grudge on this topic. This most likely is from the reality that government is not required to be nearly as competitive as the private sector. So should an equally or slightly less qualified male want the same job as a female it would be only a matter or personal preference. In the private sector to turn away a better candidate is to throw away money which is unacceptable. This is especially evident under communism where it is even less necessary to have any profit, since everyone is treated equally.


China has become one of the world's most successful and powerful nations on the planet. Women make up 46 percent of China's workforce which greater enhances the opportunities that women are faced with on an annual basis. While China continues to be one of the most populated country in the world, they are also one of the richest countries with many Chinese people, both male and female, working regularly. China plays a huge role and influence in Southeast Asia, therefore the equality that women are presented with in China could help influence several areas of the world.

Xiaohuanglong in reply to dsimp081

dsimp081 I am not sure how you arrive at this conclusion unless you are Chinese and accept without question the nationalistic drivel that is pumped out by Chinese state media. China has many 'hidden' problems not least of which is the level of provincial/non performing debt corruption etc etc. China is still a relatively poor nation and its power, while currently growing fast, is a long way behind many other countries. If citizens of the world take a holistic view of a China as a huge country soon to be populated/ruled by a majority of single children who have been raised to be selfish narcissists with highly dysfunctional psychological profiles who believe they are truly invincible, they should be very worried!


I think this is an awesome step for china as a country. one of the most awesome things about this step is that is it very intelligent. What this is doing is it is ensuring stability and decreasing the chances of an uprising from women because they feel they are being mistreated. the last thing china would want at a time like this is an uprising and controversy in their country and government. the country is doing well and they dont want to go off path. Many countries are taking similar steps to ensure there is no uprising, especially with all the uprisings going on in the middle east right now. Kudos to china...does anyone else think this is their intention?


I think the first step is giving the deserving women more of the high positions. The prejudices are not going to go away overnight, but by allowing women into these more powerful roles, especially government ones, they are showing the anti-feminist men that women are just as capable as them and the balance between men and women is beneficial to everyone. Over time, the discrimination will fade.


China using their women as useful resources could be a key reason in their thriving economy. The fact that they view women almost as useful as men is a key concept in successful countries. Like the U.S., China says men still get the more business-oriented jobs. I'm sure that will continue to change like the United States and women will begin holding positions higher in rank like that in the government. China realizing that making women equal will make them way more successful than the other eastern countries they are surrounded by. China is still on the rise...

Hubei James

It is an interesting legacy of the CCP's victory over the KMT: the establishment of a long-lasting, radical state position on the role of women that runs entirely counter to cultural norms. It has slowly but surely enabled China to leapfrog other East Asian nations, including Taiwan, in the realm of gender equality.

Sir Pumpkin Longshanks

I'm a little confused. This newspaper has written articles detailing the lack of women's rights in China and yet this article is stating that women in China are basically having similar issues in the workforce as in the US (men are preferred for higher positions and are paid more). I understand that both are possible but it's hard to get a full grip on how women are overall treated in China.

Don't worry; most of women in China live well.
Well, in China, actually women are much more powerful than expected even if they don't hold some important position in the company. Well, they hold the money in their family, especially in the cities. No matter whether a man is powerful or not, at home, he listens to his wife. Actually many Chinese women have no great interest in seeking power in politics or business; they can hold a good job with a good salary and be independent economically while they have a happy family with a good husband and a healthy clever child. It is what most of Chinese woman want. This power, that political right isn't what they have interest in.


I hold the view that although business world is open to female,but that will make them burden more pressure.Because we see,female have the chance to win an important role in career but meanwhile they also have to look after the whole family well ,thus means opportunities create a chance and at the same time press them burden.I insist that man should help and share in the family possibility like housework or spend time with children as woman do.


Very interested acticle. But just wonder if the type of business of a company has more discriminatory effect than the gender of the CEO.

In Ms. Wendy's case, a female CEO working in a male dominated field of Petroleum business does seem to have more gender discrimination against women.
But I guess men would have the reverse discrimination if the business is a cosmetic product or fashion magazine company.

That being said, having a jetfighter pilot wife is... well a bit tough to take.. but if they all look like the ones in the picture, I guess it is a bargain.


There will always be sexual discrimination for as long as we know. Since the beginning of human civilization to present day, society expects the women to be the child-bearer/housewife. Yes, it is a very important aspect of lives as a woman, but women these days want to be out in the world exploring their options. They want to earn their own education and have their own career because they want to make their life worthwhile. To see that so many Chinese women are successful in the business sector of China's economy is amazing to me. It just shows how far women have come from the simple child-bearing days way back when. In general, women should be allowed to do whatever makes them happy. It is sad that there will probably always be some sexual discrimination in the workforce, but women have made such a huge contribution to it within the past 100 years.


Compare this with Saudi Arabia, a medieval kingdom named after the ruling clan where women still can't drive.


Under Mao, Women hold up half the sky. Since the country takes the capitalist road, more and more impediments are put into the women progress as in other worst off capitalist countries for women. We don't have to talk about woman equality in theocratic societies that are being re-insurrected primarily in enclave in India and in the Ummah.


The article mainly focuses on women in the city. In the rural areas, women are deeply devalued and pawned off to work in factories or fields at age 14 or younger. The truth is, China still heavily and systematically discriminates against women. Look at the sex ratio imbalance: 121:100. At least 70 million missing girls in China today. That means sex selective abortions are very prevalent. On the flip side, this trend of including women in the workforce may help to counteract these trends (valuing women economically may prompt some families NOT to abort), but then again, this is usually only happening in the cities.

Fire Dragon in reply to Julesjiawen

You are making up a story here. Where you get this sex ratio from, kindly to give us a convincing link? And you claim that girls at age 14 are "pawned off to work in factories", well, I don't deny child labour problem in China, but it's a world wise issue, developing or developed world, and China is not doing worse than many countries, so this is just a sweeping generalisation to say the least.


Good Article, I like hearing about women succeeding in the workplace and gaining higher positions in companies. I would like to see what America’s percentage of women working is to China’s 46%. It seems as though China is definitely on the right track for success and I am sure having women working next to men has to be helping them. Women’s next step in China is to hold a position in government!


Latest blog posts - All times are GMT
World Cup predictions: Scoring ourselves
Graphic detail 3 hrs 30 mins ago
Car technology: Turbocharged
Schumpeter July 12th, 9:00
Gun laws: Prayers and pistols
Democracy in America July 11th, 17:43
Daily chart: Justice on trial
Graphic detail July 11th, 13:40


Products and events



