How Can Women Climb Up the Corporate Ladder in China - Dissertation Example

? How can women climb up the corporate ladder in China? Word count: 4093 Executive Summary The current research focuses on the difficulties a Chinesewoman faces when she pursues high position in the corporate ladder. The challenges that the Chinese women face are mostly traditional concepts related to gender issue. Sex discrimination and inequalities are common elements in workplace that often demotivate the Chinese women. It is not uncommon that Chinese women are brought up in the traditional manner and are made to believe that a perfect woman is one who gives priority to home and family, and does not focus on career matters. This instills in the women low esteem and lack of confidence. The results of this research show that most women consider ambition as a bad thing. Also, many Chinese women deliberately avoid high position jobs either because they lack confidence or because they want to maintain a balanced lifestyle. One interesting thing that has been observed in this research is that a large number of Chinese women believe that if they become too successful in their career, then it becomes difficult to attract eligible Chinese men. This is because most Chinese men still retain the traditional thinking that a perfect wife is one who can manage her home and family, and does not focus on earning money. Contents I. Introduction ………………………………………..…………4 II. Literature review……………………………………..……….5 III. Methodology………………………………………….………10 IV. Findings……………………………………………….………11 V. Analysis ........................................……………………………14 VI. Conclusion and Recommendations ..............………………..16 VII. References ................................................................................18 VIII. Appendix ..................................................................................19 I. Introduction This report will represent a systematic analysis of how can women in China climb up the corporate ladder. This report will focus on the economic role in China, on the socio-cultural challenges in the career path of women in China and on how the women can overcome those challenges laid on their path to start and grow a successful career. According to one Chinese saying when a woman takes up a responsible position or becomes a leader it is more like “a donkey taking the place of a horse which can only lead to trouble”. There are several other such proverbs which have been belittling the dignity of women in China until the 1970s when the anti-Confucian and Lin Piao campaigns tried to improve the status of women in China. Women are still under-represented in the responsible positions in various careers. They are still deprived of the right pay and after marriage, they find it hard to maintain the right balance between family and work responsibilities (Enderwick & Dunning, 1994). However, economic restructuring, privatization, globalization has changed the nature of work, nature of management and kind of entrepreneurship among women in China. All these have influenced not only the culture of work but also in particular have influenced the equation of gendered relationships in the society of China. (Fielden & Davidson, 2010). Modern women in China today are income generators and also decision makers. Research estimates that in 1950s, women contributed to around 20% to the family income; it rose to 35% by 1990s, and expected to escalate to 52% by 2014.  Mostly, women in China have been facing traditional norms as a main barrier to their holistic growth and development.  Lack of education, early marriage, family responsibilities and the general view that women are meant to be always placed below the level of a man have been the major causes for inequality among men and women. The traditional norms are so imposing that women in China were meant to portray the “three obediences”, that is women were first supposed to obey their fathers, then husbands and then their sons, as widows.  However, after decades of struggle these women in China have now become bold enough to taste personal freedom, the satisfaction to earn money by themselves and to make their own identity. Women today have their say in marriage and are also increasingly opting for late marriage until they have a stable career or even they are considering marriage as not an option at all. They are enjoying more earning power and more spending power as never before. Ambitious women are starting business of their own. Globally, out of 20 richest self made female billionaires, 11 are Chinese. Chinese women are gaining world recognition at a fast pace for their commercial power and influence.  Chinese women today are very careerist, even more than the ladies in the United States (according to research) and over 75% aspire to climb the corporate ladder to attain a high level position (Bergstrom, 2012). II. Literature Review The position of women in employment and small business ownership in China Legislations for equal opportunities, globalization and privatization have generated huge job opportunities for new talented, qualified and skilled women in China. However, the same factors have led to lay offs of the bunch of working ladies who are less educated and older in age. However, according to research in 2004, only 0.7% of women worked as organization heads compared to 2.5% of men. China also has high number of early-stage entrepreneurship. According to official data of 2002, 2.5% of women in work were self employed, while in 2005, it was 5.5%. The number of female business entrepreneurs is much lower than men, out of which, about 40% women have ventured into new business because of necessity and 60% were attracted towards the opportunities. The opportunity to necessity ratio in case of Chinese men have been found to be 1.57 while that for women, it was only 1.11. This clearly indicates a motivational disparity between men and women, reasons of which can be many (Fielden & Davidson, 2010). Challenges in the career path of Chinese women Firstly, there is occupational discrimination of the human resource in China, by gender. This in turn results into inequalities in work, promotion, position and pay. Further, working women who are married are supposed to take care of the entire family by themselves along with keeping up their job. Employers still see women as unnecessary burden. Pregnancy and followed absenteeism are not very encouraged. Few “career breaks” are graciously offered to women to support them during maternity period and child bearing duties. Moreover, options for part time jobs are less. Also, it has been found that the women have been working more in low paid export related manufacturing industries while men are engaged more in highly paid joint ventures and foreign firms (Fielden & Davidson, 2010). Financial restraint is another factor. Having money and lofty inheritances are always considered to be a major positive factor to start any business. However, in China liquidity restraint is a major hindrance to start a new venture. Combining the factors of gender inequality and low capital accumulation in China, it is very challenging for women entrepreneurs to think of their own business. Many of them depend upon their husbands for the capital. Also the banking system in China is not favorable enough to finance small businesses (which are mainly headed by women) due to lack of guarantee system, poor financial structure etc. (Fielden & Davidson, 2010). Often the women use guanxi (a network of personal connections) to overcome both the financial and socio-cultural constraints in the path of their career but again, women managers or business owners who interact too intimately with their male contacts through guanxi it may damage their reputation and career. Chinese society has very low tolerance of close relationships between a man and woman outside the bond of marriage.  Also, lack of education is still a factor hampering the career paths of women (Fielden & Davidson, 2010). Fourthly, there are certain symbolic capital related hindrances like legitimacy, prestige, status, social approval etc. Woman’s ambitions are often secondary compared to that of their husbands. That a woman can step out of the house and do something of her own needs family approval and support. The very mind set of the society that a woman’s ambitions are immaterial has led to prolonged deprivation of women of their rights to live life on their own terms (Fielden & Davidson, 2010). How can women in China climb up the corporate ladder Use of extensive guanxi related networking and contacts have made the Chinese women successful employees, top managers, and business owners. The guanxi connections help them to tap the right resources at the right time. Breaking certain networks in China is really difficult and here the right contacts are all they need. They give them the right information, they interact and feed one another and individual success highly depends on having these right contacts and the right know-how (Fielden & Davidson, 2010). Guanxi is an art. If anyone has skill, talent, ambition along with access to political power, it is considered to be rich “capital” in China. However, research has shown that most women use guanxi network only to gain small things. Small things may include getting into someone’s good books or attaining goods which are not available easily. More complex part of guanxi, like travelling somewhere or meeting someone beyond the loop of family and friends, to get a job for the woman are done by the males. Mostly guanxi is used by the women to maintain a cordial relationship with bosses and colleagues which they can cash in during times of need. Friendliness, co-operation and warmth are being used by most women to stay in the good books of the fellow work mates and superiors.  Some of the women have also claimed that it is easier to deal with men in the workplace and ask for favors as they are more accommodating and forgiving towards women. Women are comfortable to use their “charm” over men for less important matters. However, for a serious issue, they rely on their skills and brains and project themselves as intelligent to influence men. “Charm” here not necessarily means sexual services; rather it refers to the skill of women to use the attraction between opposite sexes, which is a good enough reason, in many cases, for a man to help a woman. Men also use their wives in guanxi. They send their wives on their behalf to gain a favor. For big and important favors, the women are expected to act accordingly to the expectations of the men (McLaren, 2005).   However, many use guanxi as a more professional approach. It is seen as a platform to communicate, interact amongst each other about any important matter or decision where everyone’s opinions and ideas are required and shared. It is about engaging the staff and colleagues, gaining their trust and boosting up their confidence in return. One of the most negative aspects of guanxi, however has been pointed out as hoahua (speaking well to superiors, no matter what). No one wants to offend his or her superior; since guanxi is the general norm, everyone tries to impress his or her boss for which they rather seek to flattery and goes beyond his or her true feelings to build a good rapport with the boss. This creates unnecessary resentful obligation on the superior, to do any favor in return, for them, when asked for (McLaren, 2005).   However, it is considered to be an asset for a woman who has good connections that can pay off, especially in hospitality and trade sectors. Women with impressive networking skills are helped to move forward in their career very fast. Networking with external business contacts are however more challenging and if a woman finds herself alone in such gatherings, she tends to be more cautious by avoiding drinking and smoking. Guanxi as practiced in China is often viewed as a female practice in the West. It is more like obligation and responsibility to move up the ladder. Though it is used by both men and women in China, yet women use it in a more subtle way which is more careful and non-threatening. For highly successful businesswomen also guanxi is the key to tap the right resources, to be communicative with the customers, stakeholders and employers.  It seems women who have been long deprived of their rights to development in China, had to somehow sought to a more feminine, warm, friendly approach to break the ice of male dominance (McLaren, 2005).   Concept of Modern Women in China Most women consider “independence” to be “modern”. Independent thought, career, decisions, as well as job, career, life are all part of modern women in China.  Additional attributes are confidence, healthy self esteem, innovativeness, quick thinking etc. Also, adaptability and managing family responsibilities along with work is another attribute of modern woman. In spite of long working hours, job insecurity, tough rules ad regulations, women think that working in private sector is very advantageous since the private sector provides more career growth in terms of salary, position, etc. Ability to pursue their choice of job according to their interest is a great boost for them (McLaren, 2005).   Also for married working women, whose families are supportive enough, keeping their children with grandparents is a great relief when they go for work. These women have a lot of mental peace when they are at work which reflects on their performance level as well. They tend to manage their career path in a better way. Also, with the one child policy in China today, the modern Chinese families have become smaller. Grandparents are having more time and energy to spend on their grandchildren. Thus women in China have come a long way breaking the traditional bondages; yet, they still have a long way to go. With increasing opportunities and respect for woman’s right to education, career and life, modern women in China will gain more success (McLaren, 2005). III. Methodology There are a number of research methods that can be selected and applied according to the nature and scope of the topic. Research can be described as primary and secondary research. Primary research includes survey conducted by the researcher which means asking questions (see Appendix) to participants and collecting data based on the answers. Secondary research means gathering information from other people’s research. This can save time as it involves collection of data from available sources (Design and Technology, n.d.). Primary research For primary research, a survey was conducted on 50 Chinese working women. The topic of this research is the challenges faced by women while climbing up the corporate ladder in China. Since primary data is collected by the researcher from first hand sources, the data collected are authentic, specific and up-to-date. Also, the questions can be framed specifically for the research question. However, drawback of primary research is the involvement of high cost and time (Onkvisit & Shaw, 2008, p.254). Secondary research For secondary research, literary sources like books were used to make a comprehensive study of Chinese women’s perspective regarding career and the challenges they face while pursuing their ambitions. Method of data generation For this particular research, the method that has been taken for collecting data is giving out questionnaires to the selected women. The study was conducted by observing and comparing the answers of the respondents. The questionnaire was set with clear, concise and appropriate questions. Care was taken so that questions did not probe too much into personal and sensitive issues which the respondents will not feel comfortable to answer. Measures were taken to ensure confidentiality and protection of data. IV. Findings Many important observations have surfaced from the responses of the selected candidates. The responses have been analyzed and conclusion has been reached. The charts given in this paper reflect the percentage figure of the participants in response to the questions. Question 1: In response to the first question, 13 women said they want their boss’s job, 18 women said maybe while the remaining 19 said they do not want their boss’s job. Question 2: Most Chinese women lack the confidence of having the talent and expertise to do their boss’s job and this is reflected in their response to the second question. 14 women said they have the capabilities to do their boss’s job, as many as 21 women said they are not sure while 15 women said they do not have the capabilities. Question 3: Most Chinese women are born with the belief that their primary responsibility is towards their family, and career is not necessary or should be considered as secondary. In response to the third question, 28 women said ambition is a bad thing for women, 12 women said perhaps and the remaining only 10 women said ambition is not a bad thing. Question 4: Most of the women who said that ambition is a bad thing expressed the reason that family do not approve. As many as 45 percent of women said they do not have ability to balance time between career and family. Interestingly, a high percentage of the respondents (almost 55 percent) said that if they become too successful in their career, then it will be difficult to attract the eligible men in their country. Moreover, almost 25 percent of the women said they deliberately avoid high position jobs to maintain a balanced lifestyle. Question 5: In response to the fifth question, only 12 respondents said that men always prefer career oriented women, 18 said that men rarely prefer so while 20 respondents said men never prefer career oriented women. Question 6: For most Chinese women career is secondary as family comes first for them. In response to the sixth question, 22 women said that focus should only be on family, 19 women said that focus can be on both family and career while only 9 women said that focus should only be on career. Question 7: When asked about the reason for their above answer, almost 60 percent of women said that they have been brought up with the belief that a perfect woman is one who takes care of her family by being perfect wife and mother. Therefore, career is secondary or is of no importance at all. There were also responses like husbands earn enough and so it is not necessary for them to do jobs. Around 25 percent of the respondents said they doubt their capabilities and hence feel that by doing jobs they will be unfair to their employers. Question 8: Studies have proved that Chinese women today are exposed to more sex discrimination in their workplaces than 20 years ago. This is reflected in the responses to the eighth question. 31 respondents said they always or most of the times experience inequality in their workplace while only 3 respondents said they never face inequality. Question 9: In response to the ninth question, 8 women said their husbands support their career decisions very much while 11 women said their husband support them to some extent, 17 women said they do not get much support from their husbands, and the remaining 14 women denied getting support from their husbands. Question 10: In response to the tenth question, almost 57 percent of the Chinese women said that a perfect woman is one who is financially independent, and at the same time can efficiently manage their family and career. However, as high as 35 percent of the respondents said that a perfect woman is one who obeys her husband or father, and gives priority to family without holding any career ambitions. V. Analysis In China, women are still treated as the inferior sex which means they are meant to serve their family. The current research focuses on the difficulties a Chinese woman faces when she pursues high position in the corporate ladder. The challenges that the Chinese women face are mostly traditional concepts related to gender issue. Most Chinese men still think an ideal woman is one who looks after her family, takes cares of the children, cooks food and stays obedient to male members of the family. It is not uncommon in China that women get married at early age thereby having no higher education. When asked about importance of ambition in a woman’s life, almost 80 percent of the respondents replied that career is not a good thing for women. This indicates how the mindset of Chinese women is still dominated by traditional ideas. It is indeed challenging for the Chinese women in the male dominating society to walk up the corporate ladder. The current research shows that only 26 percent of women want their boss’s job while as high as 72 percent of the respondents are either unsure of their capabilities or believe that they do not have the talent to take up their boss’s job. Such low level of confidence is common among Chinese women. There are various reasons that can be attributed to low self esteem among women professionals like discouragement from family especially husband, traditional belief that a perfect woman should give more importance to home, sex discrimination in workplace etc. According to Wang Hongwei who is a women’s study expert, “China is still a sexist country, dominated by men, and women are discriminated against” (Macleod, 2013). In the political arena in China, women are still struggling to reach the top positions. The major reason that can be seen is the widespread prejudices and misconceptions among the female politicians. A very interesting thing that has been observed in this research is that a large number of Chinese women believe that if they become too successful in their career, then it becomes difficult to attract eligible Chinese men. This is because most Chinese men still retain the traditional thinking that a perfect wife is one who can manage her home and family, and does not focus on earning money. According to Wang Yan who is director of one match-making agency, “Traditional ideas emphasise that a man should be talented, while a woman should be pretty” (McElroy, 2001). Almost 76 percent of the respondents believe that it will be difficult for women who are successful in their career to find eligible men. However, there has been a drastic change in the modern women of China who are becoming more career oriented with their own cars and even flats. One major challenge that Chinese women face is sex discrimination and inequality in workplaces. This is a major hindrance in their goal of reaching top position in the corporate ladder. One common challenge faced by women comes in the form of glass ceiling which means women are deliberately kept in their current level of job in spite of their ability to demonstrate skill, knowledge and experience needed for higher level jobs. This is essentially a form of biased treatment by superiors to woman employees and is extremely common in not only China but in all countries. Almost 80 percent of the respondents said they face inequality in their workplace. The result is that many women prefer to leave their current jobs to find other jobs. Women often face difficulty in finding new jobs because of their gender. Most of the times even though job recruiters are satisfied with their qualification and experience, they are rejected because of their future marriage and pregnancy. The Chinese government requires companies to provide women with “14 weeks of paid maternity leave” (Chin, 2013). Such legalities often discourage companies to recruit women for their high position jobs. Ironically, this research has also shown that there are some women in Chinese society who deliberately do not pursue high position jobs like managerial or executive jobs. This is because such jobs demand loads of responsibilities and less time flexibility. In response to the fourth question, almost a quarter of the respondents said that in order to manage a balanced lifestyle they avoid high position jobs. VI. Conclusion and Recommendations This is an era of women’s rights and fight against sex discrimination in all places ranging from home to workplaces. However, even in this modern age, women face inequality at every phase of their life. At home they are expected to remain obedient first to their fathers, then after marriage to their husbands, and finally during old age to their sons. Such traditional concepts are even more prominent in the Chinese society, where the men still tend to dominate the women. It is not uncommon that Chinese women get married at early age and are not provided with higher education required for jobs in big corporate houses. Herein, starts the challenges that Chinese women face in their path towards high position in the corporate ladder. Workplace sex discrimination is a common element that acts as a major hindrance for Chinese working women. Often women are regarded as burdens and are not provided positions they deserve because of their future marriage and pregnancies. Although today, there is much progress in the mindset of management of corporations, sex discrimination still continues in subtle or covert manner. However, one major challenge faced by career oriented women is one that is in their heads. By this it means that most Chinese women grow up with the idea that a perfect woman has to be a great wife and a great mother. Her first job is to look after her home and satisfy the needs of her family. Such upbringing instills in a woman low self esteem and lack of confidence when pursuing their career. This has been reflected in this research as 35 percent of the respondents believe that a perfect woman is one who gives importance to family and does not focus on career matters. In order to become a successful career woman, it is important that women first overcome their feeling of low confidence. For this the need is to talk about their aspirations with their family members so as to build the much needed support system which is vital for every working woman. In workplaces, it is important that women do not feel inhibited because majority of their colleagues are men. The need is to focus on work and deliver quality performance so as to be in the good books of the management. It is a fact that women have to work harder than men to prove themselves. The idea is that women must not let it act as demotivator and instead focus on work to prove their efficiency. References Bergstrom, M. 2012, All Eyes East: Lessons from the Front Lines of Marketing to China's Youth, Macmillan, USA. Chin, J. 2013, China’s women professionals challenge workplace inequality, South China Morning Post, [online] Available at: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1330568/chinas-women-professionals-challenge-workplace-inequality [Accessed December 31, 2013] Design and Technology. n.d., CSU, [online] Available at: http://hsc.csu.edu.au/design_technology/producing/develop/2662/primary.htm [Accessed December 31, 2013] Enderwick, P. & Dunning, J. 1994, Transnational Corporations and Human Resources, Volume 16, Routledge, London. Fielden, S. & Davidson, M.  2010,   International Research Handbook on Successful Women Entrepreneurs, Edward Elgar Publishing, UK. Macleod, C. 2013, China’s women struggle to breach male-heavy politics, USA Today, [online] Available at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/03/11/china-women-politics/1972109/ [Accessed December 31, 2013] McElroy, D. 2001, Chinese men shy away from clever career women, The Telegraph, [online] Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1317700/Chinese-men-shy-away-from-clever-career-women.html [Accessed December 31, 2013]  McLaren, A. 2005, Chinese Women - Living and Working, Routledge, London Onkvisit, S. & Shaw, J. 2008, International Marketing: Strategy and Theory. 5th ed., Routledge, NY Appendix 1. Do you want your boss’s job? a) Yes b) Maybe c) No 2. Do you have the capabilities to do your boss’s job? a) Yes b) Not sure c) No 3. Is ambition a bad thing for women? a) Yes b) Sometimes c) No 4. Give reasons for your answer 5. Do men prefer career oriented women? a) Always b) Rarely c) Never 6. Should women focus only on family or also on career? a) Only family b) Both c) Only career 7. Give reasons for your answer 8. Do you experience workplace inequality? a) Always b) Most of the times c) Sometimes d) Rarely e) Never 9. Does your husband support your career decision? a) Very much b) To some extent c) Not much d) Not at all 10. What is your definition of a perfect woman? Read More