Chinese Women in a Globalized Economy - Assignment Example

Lecturer: Introduction Globalization is a process through which international populations become integrated in terms of lifestyle, ideologies and products among other characteristics of culture. This integration has been enhanced by technological advances in transport and communication that have enhanced trade, tourism and economic integration between countries globally. As interactions between international populations continue, local cultural practices are being abandoned while others are changing through the influence of foreign cultures in China. This paper talks about the Chinese women’s condition before and after globalization and how the globalized economy affects them. Chinese Women and Globalization The Chinese traditional society regarded women as second class citizens who did not have the rights and freedoms that were enjoyed by men. It is not until 1949 that women began enjoying their rights. There were no equal education opportunities for boys and girls in traditional China as girls were regarded as passing members of the family who would be married off and therefore lacked long term economic benefits (Croll, 2005). According to Chatterjee (2003), the societal structures were modelled in a manner that placed women in an inferior position with a minor role of taking care of children and in-laws. They were expected to demonstrate humility in their subservient role. Women were regarded as ‘passive and unambitious’ and hence were considered to be of no value to economic development in China. Some Chinese folktales depict the society’s view of women that degraded women’s status through such phrases as ‘girls are maggots in rice’ while arguments of the greater value of geese than girls was a common semantic among many traditional Chinese families (Cheraghi, 2013). Croll (2005) observes that infant mortality was higher in girls than boys among underprivileged traditional Chinese families as a result of contempt by the parents and other community members. Becoming pregnant out of wedlock was regarded as an abomination for the girl and the family to the society yet the man involved went unpunished. Suicide was therefore common among unfortunate girls who got pregnant before marriage. Chinese parents ensured that girls were married off as soon as the mature, which made their stay at home transitory. No family could therefore ‘waste’ resources contributing to the intellectual development. Women were forced in to unhappy pre-arranged marriages for which they had no option. Cruel in-laws made it worse for women as they were not allowed go back to their parents. This also contributed to suicide among other marital pressures (Ngan-ling & Yuchun, 2011). There was a significant influence of foreign cultures on the Chinese population as the country opened up to globalization. Women began to understand their plight in the Chinese society in comparison to their peers in other nations. Chinese men also realised that women from other cultures such as the Western world possessed important capabilities that contributed to economic development. However, Chinese women were faced with a dilemma of maintaining their position in the society or allowing the influences of international culture to take effect (Cheraghi, 2013). However, as Muhammad & Bashir (2012) observe, globalization is a slow and steady process that may often pass unnoticed. Some of the occurrences pass unnoticed but leave significant impacts on the society. Public perception was to a large extent responsive to the portrayal of women from Western cultures through mass media as proactive in economic development, agitation for democracy and women empowerment. Foreign cultural values and socio-political doctrines began being amalgamated in the local culture. This trend was facilitated by mass media and was beneficial to Chinese women as they began to appreciate their capacity in economic activities (Croll, 2005). Globalization led to increased participation of Chinese women in politics. They began being represented in legislative organs that continued to agitate for the freedom of women and empowerment of the girl child. Participation of women in politics led to their inclusion in leadership positions in government as well as in social matters. Men began appreciating the role of Chinese women in leadership through the influence of globalization. The freedom of women in the Western cultures influenced the local perception of women as second class citizens. Chinese women joined global forums and federations for women empowerment. Participation of women in the leadership of the National People’s Congress as Deputies from 1954 to 2003 is an indication of the impact of globalization on the conditions of Chinese women (Ngan-ling & Yuchun, 2011). Currently, Cheraghi (2013) observes that women are represented in government at all levels in China and are active in political affairs as their male counterparts. This is attributed to China being a member of the international community that requires it to uphold gender equality in terms of education, employment and political representation. The rights of women have been entrenched in China’s constitution under the law of protection of women rights. Recognition of international labour laws has enhanced equal participation of women in employment (Croll, 2005). Globalization opened up educational opportunities for Chinese women. According to Chatterjee (2003), less than 20% of girls acquired formal education before 1949. The male dominated educational system has since changed under the influence of globalization with China being ranked among the developed economies globally. The current position of China in terms of global economic ranking could not be achieved with the existence of gender discrimination in the educational system. Overall school enrolment rate is considered among the economic indicators and the government had no choice but to suppress the culture that failed to recognise the rights of women in society. In the year 2000, the enrolment of girls in education reached a high of 99.07%, just 0.7 percentage points below the enrolment of boys Chen (2004). This is an indication of cultural change as families are willing to support girl child education as they do for boys. This enrolment trend is consistent at all levels of education up to university. Increased education levels among Chinese women correspond to a rise in employment rate and a shift from the male dominance to a more gender representative workforce. Since 1949, Chatterjee (2003) notes that there has been a steady growth of women employment in the agricultural sector, mining, manufacturing and construction, all which were in the conventional industry. The women were engaged in the non-core tasks that required no skills and hence low pay. This trend has changed beginning from 1978 as a result of globalization that has promoted education of women in tertiary institutions locally and abroad. Globalization of education has also led to emergence of new modes of learning that are sensitive to women’s social and physiological needs. These include part time classes that allow women to work and at the same time improve their skills. Online, open and distance learning is also credited for the improvement in educational competences among women in China as they are able to undertake learning while taking care of their families or earning thereby enhancing self-reliance (Kamal et al. 2009). Increased skills have caused a shift of women engagement in conventional jobs only to a greater number being employed in innovative industries, finance, healthcare, media and communication among other lucrative jobs in the service industries. This has led to a shift from the conservative viewpoint of the society that relegated women as caretakers of the home to the modern perspective whereby women are playing a similar role with men of providing for the family as well as participating in economic development (Croll, 2005). Women can own cars as their husbands and participate in other social groupings without necessarily involving their husbands. These have been a significant source of enlightenment on the role of women in nation building. Interaction with women from different cultures has enhanced development of the ‘new culture’ that was proposed in 1916 in the agitation for equality and justice for Chinese women. Confucianism and traditional cultural value system were viewed as the major hindrances to accomplishment of the ‘new culture’. The May Fourth Movement is credited as the beginning of feminine civilization in China that was agitated by the need for equality and democracy similar to that of the Western societies. The movement enhanced women’s social status and also gained respect as it brought greater social contact that won them support in the Western world (Chatterjee, 2003). Globalization led to the establishment of the marriage law in 1950 that empowered Chinese women to have greater control of their adult life and move away from the demands of the feudal marriage arrangements in which they were compelled to marry a man of their parent’s choice. Male superiority in the family was also undermined by the law giving women an opportunity to be heard and also to contribute to important decisions of the family. The freedom to divorce was made open to both parties in a marriage by the marriage law and a woman can also initiate a divorce suit if she is disgruntled in a marriage. This was not acceptable in the Chinese traditional society (Kamal et al. 2009). The law was developed in line with those of the global community that China joined when it opened up to international linkages. The country is a member of the United Nations which is an international organization that promotes gender equality. Global networks have enhanced the understanding of women on matters affecting them especially with the developments in internet technology. Information access is free as long as an individual is willing to seek it. It has enhanced personal freedom as women do not wait for their husbands to solve their personal problems. They can get assistance from online peers for their own issues as well as for their daughters (Chen, 2004). However, globalization has not been without negative impacts on the Chinese society. The traditional value system had good aspects that strengthened family ties and made children acquire a sense of belonging to the larger community. Women and men have equal opportunities to work and preferential treatments for women are not expected in the modern workplace. Childbearing is still the natural preserve of modern career women and hence they have to struggle to accomplish a work-life balance. Nevertheless, the lives of Chinese women after globalization are far much better than they were in the traditional value system (Kamal et al. 2009). Conclusion The Chinese traditional value system relegated women in a lower class compared to men. Their role was to bear children, take care of their families and in-laws. Girls were regarded as inferior to boys and families were valued according to the number of boys they had. Having girls in a family was a disadvantage. Globalization has significantly contributed to the rejection of this traditional viewpoint with girls being enrolled in schools as much as boys. Women have equal chances of education and employment as men. They have also been empowered to engage in marriage by free will rather than the traditional forced marriages by parents. They are equally participating in national politics and economic development. Generally, globalization has helped to improve the lives of Chinese women. References Chatterjee, P. (2003). “The nationalist resolution of the women’s question”, Recasting women: Essays in colonial history 7, pp.233–253. Chen, C. S. (2004). In action: The network of women’s media surveillance. China statistical yearbook, Beijing: State Statistical Bureauof the Peoples Republic of China. Cheraghi, M. (2013), “Innovation by entrepreneurs in China: the increasing prominence of women", Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China, 5(3), pp.172-187. Croll, E. (2005). Changing identities of Chinese women: Rhetoric, experience and self-perception in Twentieth-century China. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. Kamal, N, Wojoud R. & Rana, N. (2009), Factors that Affect Women Entrepreneurs: Evidence from an Emerging Economy, International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 17(3), pp. 225-247. Muhammad Z. & Bashir A. (2012), “Effects of globalization on women in Pakistan", Humanomics, 28(3), pp.180-186. Ngan-ling C. & Yuchun Z. (2011), “Globalization and Locality: The Gendered Impact of the Economic Crisis on Intersectionality, Migration, and Work in China”, Advances in Gender Research, 15, pp.95-120. Read More