Left Behind? The Status of Women in Contemporary China

Abstract

<p>The status of women in China has deteriorated markedly since 2006 relative to other countries, according to the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Index. Taking a longer view, the position of women has greatly improved since the founding of the People’s Republic of China but, after the ‘opening up’ of the economy, the logic of the market and the legacy of patriarchy have worked to the detriment of women. After briefly reviewing trends in China’s economic, demographic and social development, this editorial follows the structure of the thematic issue in focusing on the processes which may have caused women to slip behind. Socio-economic and political factors are considered first before focusing on the impact of unprecedently large scale migration. The circumstances and experiences of women ‘left outside’ mainstream society are explored next before reflecting on the lives of women left behind in poverty.</p>

Exploring the desires to become academics: Reflections of academic women in Chinese non‐elite public universities

“…In the Chinese context, the traditional familial value of “in favor of men over women” (重男轻女) has persisted for centuries. Although the one‐child policy has alleviated this bias, this deeply rooted familial value still exists, particularly in the rural areas (Walker & Millar, 2020). As exemplified in Liang's narrative, parents may view their daughters' education as a lower priority than their sons.…”

Major Depressive Disorder in China: Prevalence and Societal Factors in Different Age Groups

“…However, in China, women tend to face harsher challenges than men in terms of employment. It is more difficult to obtain social resources [27], which may be one of the societal factors leading to women's higher prevalence of MDD. Furthermore, the higher prevalence in women may be related to cultural norms, as women are more encouraged than men to express their emotions and seek professional help [4].…”

Webs of reciprocity: Colonial taxation and the need for reparations

“…Drawing on recent work developing this argument-such as that by Des Fitzgerald et al, Robbie Shilliam, and Imogen Tyler-Millar goes on to advocate for a reparative frame through which to address issues of inequality and redistribution. Such a frame would enable analyses that work for all of us, nationally and globally (see Walker & Millar, 2020). This nicely captures the broader intent of my article that seeks to mobilize a better social science in the address of the urgent problems that face us.…”