Redefining ‘Labor’ in Beijing: Women's Attitudes on Work and Reform

Work Satisfaction of Chinese Women

“…Besides, the government also implemented some policies that created barriers and disadvantages for certain groups, including married and older women (Nolan 2010 ;Peng et al 2009 ). As such, social inequality in general and gender inequality in particular have become a serious issue in contemporary China (Currier 2007 ;Zhang and Hannum 2013 ). When comparing with their male coworkers, female workers may feel that they are relatively deprived under the current economic situation.…”

“…Some of the new policies promoted by the Chinese government implicitly and explicitly encourage women to return home, to take on traditional gender roles, and to leave the public sphere to men (Currier 2007 ). In the workplace, women encounter various obstacles and suffer many disadvantages.…”

Linking Gender Role Orientation to Subjective Career Success

“…Despite communist ideology and social policies that promoted gender equality during Mao’s rule (1949–1976), the traditional patriarchal values and gender-based division of labor has resurfaced after the economic reforms (Summerfield, 1994). Currier (2007) observed that the new policies promoted by the Chinese government implicitly and explicitly encourage women to return home, to take on traditional gender roles, and to leave the public sphere as the domain of men. Strong gender norms and stereotypes have been widely held in contemporary Chinese society.…”