The Power of Chinese Women

[akikot]

My husband went to China on business two weeks ago. After he came back home last weekend, he asked me to write a thank-you mail to the lady who runs a company with her husband.

What he describes her is like this: she graduated from college in the U.S. She is in her mid-thirties. She speaks English fluently. She seems to hold the authority to make important decisions rather than her husband. She also owns a BMW and Benz. Wow!

My husband says that he knows many women who run their business in China.

Today, I happened to read a special feature in the Newsweek that came out last week. It featured Chinese Women and Leadership. Whatfs a coincidence!

It says that roughly eight out of 10 companies in China have women in senior management roles, compared with half in the EU and two thirds in the USA. Similarly 31 percent of top executives are female in China, compared with 20 percent in the USA.

Thatfs exactly the same as what my husband says. The article also says that Chinese women appear to be far more ambitious than their counterparts in the U.S.

What about Japan? Almost all the executives in the companies are male. Japan is still male-dominated society.

Can you guess the reason why there are so many Chinese women who have moved up the corporate ladder? The answer can be found in the article of the September 6, 2010, issue of Newsweek magazine.

akiko

[David S]

Very interesting article Akiko. But I think sometimes statistics can be misleading. For example: the article cites percentages, "roughly eight out of 10 companies in China had wom-en in senior management roles." This is indeed a very high number, but what is the total number of companies in China compared to those in America. For example, if China only had 10 companies but America had 100 companies then China's numbers aren't so distinguished. Also, you have to factor in population. China has a population more than three times America's. So, it follows that more women would be able to fight for great jobs.

I'm not saying the article is wrong, just that the statistics and facts used in the article seem suspicious. Last year I watched a documentary about China and they spent some time talking about how women are still often seen as second class to men. Just look at the population average: approximately 40% women to 60% men. The average in the west is 50/50. This kind of preference must reverberate through other aspects of society.

Again, thanks for the great read!

[akikot]

Thank you for the prompt reply on this topic, David. I thought this might be an interesting article because Japanese economy depends heavily on Chinese power now. Ifm not saying that I take this columnistfs side. I just wanted to bring up this subject to discuss with you and the guests.

As you said, we canft compare the total number of women in senior management roles between in China and America by the statistics. Of course we have to consider the fact that there is a big difference in womenfs circumstances between wealth people and poor people in China. Those women who succeeded in their career must be limited.

The article implies that the communism always emphasized that women can do whatever men can do. Mao's revolution caused enormous pain upon society but it did empower women.

I think that might be one reason that many college-educated women describe themselves as very ambitious. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a communist at all. The article also says that many women believe they belong among Chinafs power elite.

Anyway, we should not judge anything by only one article, but we cannot overlook some aspects of the report.

Ifll try to bring up another topic next time.
Thank you.

[David S]

Thanks again for the topic Akiko. I really enjoy articles like this because it really opens up discussions, both for and against.

It's true we shouldn't judge anything based on one article, but it's not wrong to offer some opinions based on one article. So I think it's not only safe, but good to offer up this article and give your opinion.