unfortunately data limitations do not allow for inclusion of other potentially relevant variables such as wealth proxies presence of hired help and access to care service facilities despite these achievements the state goal of promoting gender equality continues to face many challenges including the persistence of discrimination in the labour market and the declining labour force participation of women a better understanding of gender relations within the household is crucial to die attainment of die chinese development objective since womens lives are often structured around dieir responsibilities as mothers and wives the fact that women do most of the unpaid work affects dieir wellbeing as well as their labour force participation