The role and status of women have changed since 1978" To extent do you agree with this

statement?
1

The trouble with the role and status of women harks back to as far as the feudal times, when Confucius
preached that women are inferior to men. Women, then, were considered property of men, had no
rights, and were wholly accountable to their husband and family. However, things started to change
with the downfall of the Qing dynasty and the rise of western style government. Most prominently, it
was during the communist rule when the status of women had a dramatic boost as CCP championed
equality regardless of gender. Coupled with the economic reforms which started in 1978, the role and
status of women have generally changed for the better as women receive more opportunities in school
and. at work. However, while there are improvements, there are also limitations to these changes as
women are still tied to certain traditional roles like homemakers and caregivers except they now also
have to share the financial burden of bringing the bread home. On top of that, improvements to the role
and status of women are stymied by male domination in the society and the deep-seated superiority
complex embedded in the male psyche. Therefore, this essay seeks to argue that while the role and
status of women have improved dramatically, to speak of gender equality, it is still a far cry.
Women's status improved with the establishment of PRC; liberation of women meant equal status.
Women's rights are now protected by the law; the constitution guaranteed equal rights in political,
economic, social and family. Examples include the Marriage Law, Inheritance Law, Labour Law, and Land
Reform Law. Government protective policy thus allowed women to become mothers while maintaining
jobs. Women are now also financially independent.
Economic reforms of 1978 also improved the role and status of women with the 3td Plenary Session of
CCP National Congress. The purpose was to remove the ills of Cultural Revolution, change people's
thinking and move towards economic reconstruction. More significantly, it allowed more opportunities
for women.
11th

Since 1978, women also received increased opportunities. Economic reforms opened up new
industries. Increased economic activity needed more workers. Women formed 35 out of 85
million-strong workforce. Women's federations in rural areas helped to launch backyard industries to
make efficient use of family plots. Women at home also help to produce baskets, sofa cushions and
other craftwork. Factories also employed women who could work from home, doing embroidery
while taking care of their families. By 1989, more than 6million business women were employed in
cities and towns. Up to 90% of working age women were gainfully employed. Increased opportunities
allowed women to take up professionals and political leadership positions. In 1990, women
comprised of 35% of science and technical workforce. Chinese women also accounted for 1/3 of the
university graduates. Chinese women also successful in sports; 8 out of 10 best athletes were
women.
Role and position of women also improved as women's qualification rises. One potential obstacle to
women has been their lower educational qualifications, which reduces their competitiveness.
Traditional Chinese social influences tend to downplay women's intelligence and make it harder for
them to receive higher education. However, changes are already in place to raise their educational
qualifications. Popularizing basic education for girls; China Children and Teenagers Fund, China
Youth Development Fund and other organizations aim to provide special programs to cater for
education in rural areas. Women's federations have established programs to strength
competitiveness of women. Effort mainly focused in rural areas, campaigns launched to eradicate
illiteracy and offer training classes together with science and technical schools. In particular skills
focused like farming, forestry, animal
Husbandry and sideline production etc. Establishment of China college for
women in January 1993. Collage designed to train women as leaders and
high level managers.

Incentives and welfare offered are also of the improvements to the role and status of women.
Seminar on "Compensation of Women's Expenses related to Giving Birth and Rearing Children" in

May 1991. Seminar aimed to reform labor insurance and welfare system to tackle attendant problems,
specifically aimed at redressing women's expenses during maternity and reliving employers' burden
for female employees. 11Chinese provinces and 41 cities began reforming insurance system relating
to women's maternity. Measures include getting society to share the burden and sharing costs
between couples. These measures aim to change society's perspectives towards women's traditional
childbearing role and serve mainly to benefit women and mothers.
Safeguarding women's rights is yet just another way women's role and status is improved. "Law of
the PRC on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Women" approved in 1992 concerns the
protection of women's rights and interests. Specifically addresses discrimination problems caused by
economic reforms and China's opening to the world. Commissions also established in provinces
and cities to enforce this law. Article 48 allows provision for women's federations to act when
women's rights are infringed. It shows the empowerment of organizations is meant to safeguard
women's rights. Publicity of the law is also important and carried out at various levels. Classes are
organized and books are published to explain these laws. However, despite these efforts, there are
still complex situations which complicate its implementation.
Although there have been efforts to improve women's status, they also brought about new problems
which women have to face.
One of which is the increased competition and challenges. The introduction of market economy
stimulated individuals to work for their self-benefit. Competition for jobs naturally became intense.
Chinese women in general were ill-prepared for this environment and fared less well as compared to
men. Due to market economy, priority of firms is in profit making and efficiency. Protective policies
and regulations for women are often ignored or abused by the management.
In education, women also face discrimination. Due to limitations imposed by the OCP, emphasis is on
the mates who are able to contribute more physically, especially in the countryside. Countryside folks
are often too poor to justify sending their daughters to school. This results in fewer girls than boys
enrolled in basic education, especially in poor and minority regions. More than 70% of school dropouts
are girls. Fewer girls make it to higher education due to discrimination against female students.
As a result of economic reforms, women now also bear a dual role. Despite modern thinking, the
traditional role of women still remains as child bearer and care takers at home. Different form the past is
that women are now also employed. Instead of diminishing the responsibilities laid upon women at
home, women are expected to juggle and prioritize their family while men can put their career first.
Society is less tolerant and imposes greater pressure on successful women who have chosen career over
family.
As. a result of this newfound role, successful women then become victims of deep-rooted societal
prejudices. Such prejudices have long been present in the Chinese society Due to paternal
characteristics of society, women who are more capable than their male counterparts are looked upon
with disdain. This is especially true if the women focus more on career and less on family in the process.

Despite their achievements in the economic field, these women are still deemed as having failed in
their primary duties. Although women represent a large percentage of the Chinese workforce, this
workforce still adopts a pyramid structure. i.e. the higher the hierarchy, the fewer females.
Another instance of discrimination can also be seen in politics. As compared to the 1950s, there
are no female politicians in the elite levels of the CCP hierarchy. The same may be said of the top
government leadership. Even in the National People's Congress, the ratio of male to female
representatives is 8 to 1.
Much progress has been made since feudal times to emancipate women. This can dearly be
seen through the laws and policies made to guarantee women's rights and social status. This
emancipation has been much helped along by economic development since 1978, which
made available more opportunities for women to expand their roles and upgrade their status.
However, it should not be ignored that there are limitations to these reforms as well. While
well-intentioned, economic reforms have also brought along new challenges and obstacles
facing women. This is above certain restrictions which they already face, e.g. societal prejudice
and traditional responsibilities. Therefore, we can only agree with reservations that the role and
status of women in China have changed for the better after economic reforms.