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By Adrienne Mong/NBC News File
Spot the women in China's last Communist Party Congress.
BEIJING—China’s lawmaking body, the National People’s Congress (NPC), opened its annual session last weekend to great fanfare. Watching the delegates pile in and out of the Great Hall of the People, we couldn’t help wondering: How is it that in a country of 1.3 billion, with nearly 3,000 NPC delegates, there are no women of national political prominence?
After all, Tuesday is International Women's Day, and China has a long history of strong women leaders. To name but a few: Empress Dowager Cixi, Empress Dowager Longyu, and of course two of the three Song sisters — Song Qingling (Madame Sun Yat-sen) and Song Meiling (Madame Chiang Kai-shek).
But the last time the leadership included a female official of note was Wu Yi, whom some Americans might remember as a formidable negotiator representing Chinese trade and economic interests until she retired as Vice Premier in 2008. Before Wu, the most recent government figure was the uber contemporary dragon-lady, Jiang Qing aka Madame Mao, who played an instrumental role in steering the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).
So where are the Wu Yis or (gulp) Jiang Qings of today?
Women in numbers
An initial glance at some facts and figures appears to underscore significant progress in gender equality—at least in the government sphere.
Women today in China account for 40 percent of government officials, compared to below 33 percent in 1995—which incidentally was the when the Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing.
At least 21.3 percent of NPC delegates in 2008 were women (the latest available data, according to the All China Women’s Federation). In 1954, that figure was just 12 percent.
Impressive. But consider that the female proportion of NPC delegates has not significantly changed since the early 1970s, its been stuck around 21 percent since then.
Women are even less well represented in the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), making up fewer than 18 percent of the NPC’s main advisory body.
The Communist Party fares about the same as the NPC itself. Nearly 17 million of its members are women (as of the end of 2009), making up just 21.7 percent of overall Party membership.
In the top ranks?
Numbers for senior government positions seem less remarkable:
Adrienne Mong/NBC News File
Women supposedly hold up half the sky in China, but not inside the Great Hall of the People.
In China’s cabinet, the State Council, only three ministers out of the 28 ministries and commissions are women.
In China’s 656 cities, 670 mayors and vice-mayors are women.
Just 230 ministerial and vice-ministerial or provincial-level leaders are women, comprising roughly 10 percent of the overall total.
And the highest ranking woman in Chinese government today?
First State Councilor Liu Yandong, who is also the only female in the 25-person Politburo. Liu’s official bio lists her past experience, but it’s unclear what exactly the Jiangsu native and Tsinghua University graduate does today in her role.
For most Chinese, at least the ones who’ve even heard of her, the only impression they have is, “She’s a woman, right?”
Update
For some indication of just how the Communist Party regards the issue of women in public office, take a look at the online version of one of its newspapers. The People's Daily has, um, an interesting if somewhat retrograde take on the matter. One of the main photos on its cover shows a female reporter outside the meeting with the photo caption "Attractive female at NPC, CPPCC sessions."
With additional research from Emily Ni.
Leave a Comment:
really!?
When Moa came to power, women were raised from property to people. When he died, the idea of equality died with him. The Chinese saying is that a nation is like a brick wall; it is only as strong as the individual bricks. The bricks of a nation are the families. And the strength of the family is the authority of the huband. Chinese tradition restored after Moa.
Dear Joseph Phillips, Are you Kidding or do you have no sense of reality? The Chinese government care nothing for it's people. They are simply the means of power for their own use. They care for their people? They imprison anyone who tries to protest against the government. They imprisoned thousands before the Olympics to make sure there were no protests for the world to see.
They refuse to allow the wife of the Nobel prize winner to travel or speak. They put a bullet in the head of those with whom they disagree. And then send a bill to the family for the price of the bullet. They force sterilization and abortion on the citizens. No religious freedom whatsoever. Do I even need to mention the Tiamanen Square massacre.
Try to be a reporter in China if you value your life you only report the government line. If you think they are concerned about the welfare of their people ask a Tibetan about them. Try to read something besides Karl Marx's handbook before you put in another asinine comment.
finsII - So what is your idea of caring for "the people"? Raping the institution of fatherhood as is done here in the USA through domestic court? Saddling our children and grandchildren with astronomical debt so we can live fat dumb and happy today? Taking trillions of dollars from hard working decent people and giving it to the the filthy rich and the dirt poor? Running our economy over the cliff into the waters of the sea of third world nations? Forcing everyone to embrace homosexuality? Denying that black racism exists? Taxing corporations to the point where they take their money and jobs and leave the nation? Allowing a group of bankers to run the monetary system subsequently stealing billions of dollars from the public for nothing? Is that your idea of Utopia?
finsII - The comment Joseph made sounded more like a general point of what happened and of what was and not his opinion. You sure jumped to the conclusion way to fast.
The foreign jounalists can not even report news in China.
Well, that may be a good gesture for woman's rights.
The Chinese Government is authoritarian. But it is sincerely concerned for the welfare of both the country and the people. The US Government could not care less about our country nor our people. Ours is only concerned with looting as much as they can.
Male bovine fecal matter !!! Live long and prosper !!!
I have been watching DVDs on Napoleon. History tends to ignore his Mother, his Wife, and his brother (Joseph). Great men lead teams; which include great women. Moa would not have been Moa without his wife. Most great men would not have been great without BOTH a great mother and a great wife. The problem with women in charge is a that they are more likely than men to decide things based upon feelings. Where men are more likely to decide on reason (sometimes without feelings).
Joseph Phillips...Or....Men want to believe women only make decisions based on feelings and men make decisions based on reason. That's patently erroneous. As a woman I can make just as many hard hitting reasonable decisions as a man. The disconnect is when men decide to ignore a woman's decisions.
So...let's rerun the post a little differently...Men make decisions based on male ego. Women aren't allowed to make decisions based on intelligence, reason, feelings or ego.
Women are far better employers than men for one reason. They don't see gender superiority. They are natural organizers, highly prize their outstanding ability to network and possess a unique ability to engender teamwork. Men militarize those around them. That's not teamwork.
ewent - deny reality all day long if you like. Women tend to subjugate their logic to their emotions while men tend to subjugate their emotions to their logic. In America, we have all but destroyed the institution of fatherhood and manhood in general. That is why we have become a failing, touchy feely, hyper sensitive, illogical bunch of wimps. That is why juries give millions to some idiot who spills coffee on herself. That is why we have 2,483 warning stickers on the new iron we purchased. That is why we put up 15 flashing warning sings and bright orange cones every 20 feet for 5 miles in either direction of a hundred foot highway work zone. The more we cater to the stupid and the worthless, the more stupid and worthless we become. Civilization as we knew it is about to collapse due to the fact the we are destroying the paradigm upon which it was built - the white anglo saxon man. C'mon all of you bigots pretending not to be. Call me a bigot. You may deny, oppress, and even hide from the truth, but you can't change it.
Sensitive issue here, I'm just going to say that making decisions based on ego usually has regards for the consequences, whereas making decisions based on feelings often don't.
Another thing is, what makes you think Chinese women want to get involved with politics? It's not a pretty business and not everyone has the stomach for it. On the other hand, many of the world's richest women are Chinese, maybe Chinese women likes to make money instead?
I got shocked by what these journalists are doing in China! thousands of important proposals are being discussed in that Great hall and this is the only thing you can report here? ......stupid? lazy? or what???
Are u a real journalist or just wrote this article by looking at the corner of a picture?
I believe that it is international women's day and that the article is based upon that; but fails to refer to it.
"China's leadership: where are the women?"
-----------------------------------------------------
Does China allow women in "leadership"?
@ IndependentThinker, I'm not sure what exactly you're trying to imply there, but if you look at one of the numbers provided here, more than half of the mayors and vice-mayors in 656 cities in China are women. And based on some of your other comments here, you appear more misogynist than the Chinese political system is. I wonder just how independent your thoughts are?
where are the women? there's all over china but they are not let in the political and decision making processs because their society is backwards and women are not considered equal to men. they are socially repressed but at least I hope they are fulfilled by raising strong kids. many american women suck at that, even though they are allowed in the political theater. can't have it all...
Women that I have known have acknowledged to be that the life of a civilication is as follows: First there is the writting on the cave wall. The women have decided that they have had enough of the crying and complaining of men, and are going to let men have a turn at running things. Then comes the cities, roads, music, science, etc. The end of a civilication is found on a burnt piece of paper that reads, the women have resumed control.
If men can have it all, why can't women.
Matilda, as a woman born into a family with a male majority, women are not as likely to have the high expectations men do. The main reason for this isn't that women don't have the same kind of lofty aspirations. Women know being female means they can either face that "it's a man's world" or they can become what men despise most, women who think exactly as they do and have equal power. Tight Butts as the guys in the offices of the world refer to them.
Whooosh...I can hear the men already to jump on that one. Ready, set, go.....
John Phillips...I'd bet anything while their Neanderthal husbands were out there pumping male ego hunting down T-Rex or Triceratops for din din, it was the women stuck inside the caves with the Neaandertots doing all that writing.
I hate to be the one to counter delusion, but women are NOT equal to men any more than apples are equal to oranges. Which one is better? I don't know. Are you trying to make orange juice or apple pie?
We need to find the reality before we try to change all of society. Here in America, we came to the conclusion that the white anglo hetero sexual male paradigm was deficient, so we threw it out and went with a "anything but anglo white hetero sexual male" paradigm. I hate to tell you this, but 180 degrees from sick is still sick. Balance is in the middle, not at the other end. We seem to be incapable of ridding ourselves of bigotry. We just decide who to point it at.
save the environment says: "because (Chinese) society is backwards and women are not considered equal to men"
Ha! are women considered equal to men in the American society? Just look at some of the misogynist comments here.
What a skewed report! Women make up less than 17 percent of the US houses of congress, and no woman has ever been the leader of the US government. Furthermore, women in the US weren't even allowed to vote until 1920, a full 50 years after the vote was granted to freed MALE slaves in the post-Civil War period. If you need to look at inequality in government (and industry, and religion, for that matter), you don't have to leave this country. While you look down your nose at China, they are beating us both at gender equality and economic development. Before you label the PRC as mysogynist, take a look around you. Who promoted this ridiculous premise for a "news" article?
You are so right, the US governement is screwing up everything around them and blaming it on everyone else. And the majority of "Americans and those living in USA" only think about personal gain that is why their very society is crumbling and affecting all smaller countries around them like Caribbean Islands to follow because of international relations they do not have a choice. You hear everyday gas prices are going up, yet still the Tax on gas is high and a large number of share holders of oil companies are Americans. Those who can solve alot of those issues do not even care as long as they're getting their cut. (America is not the only country screwing around but they're probably No. 1 on the list.)
Sherrie....Amen to that. Think about it. If the majority rule in Congress was female, how many wars would Americans have to pay for? Women in governments, nationally and internationally are not as likely to be warriors. We don't have a male ego and the militancy just isn't necessary to getting things accomplished in the most effective manner possible. Try and get that one past any guy and his eyes swirl, his brain burns and his ego deflates.
Adrian...Think of it this way. Men bulk, women diet. Men are smart enough and big enough to inspire fear. Here's one you can count on. Which gender comprises the majority of CEOs in this country? Which gender comprising that majority end up with most of the money? For every female CEO there's a ratio of 100 to 1. Only Oprah Winfrey has managed to sit out there among the wealthiest Americans most of whom are male.
And let's not pretend that the reason men outpace women as CEOs is because they are smarter. Nothing to do with smarts. Everything to do with puffed out chests, swagger, swagger, boom boom and all that male ego pumping faster than a Texas oil rig. It is never the guy who is smartest who gets top billing. It's the one who has the bigger ego.
As for the fearmongering and the price of oil. That's all it really is. There is NO oil shortage. There IS male scheming fearmongers creating the fear and people fall for it. Those same fearmongers are laughing all the way to the bank. Want to take bets Big Oil will record a third historic profit in the next fiscal quarter?
Not true.....we had Princess Nancy presiding over the House for awhile. Look at the GREAT job she did....NOT!!!!!!
Good point, areo.
Nancy Uglosi is a good example of why many people are appalled at women leaders.
Thank you Sherrie! I was wondering the whole time as I read through this article of how these numbers compare to American ones. Thank you for pointing that out.
And it would appear that misogyny is positively correlated with Sinophobia, if you look at comments by IndependentThinker and the alike. (no surprise there)
Again, it is international women's day. Which I guess is the basis of the article. The article just does not say what it is about.
Sherrie: You are a prime example of a woman who loves your slavery. Sure, you're right, our own society has a loooooong way to go to gender equality. But, somehow you manage to claim that our status---very much more advanced than the Chinese system---to be inferior to the Chinese system.
Matilda...The US will NEVER be as advanced as the Chinese culture. How can we? They are a unilateral culture. Pure Chinese. And, the age of their history is why they are so highly intelligent. Think about it. Let's say that you were a direct descendant of a culture thousands of years old. In my view, an untainted culture only knows and understands it's own culture instinctively after thousands of years of history. Americans view this as insular.
China doesn't have the melting pot the US does. One pressure we have is for the multi-cultural soup to learn to gravitate to the center so we can all "get along". China has no such pressure. Everything in China is Chinese.
I've met enough born and bred Chinese in my lifetime to learn to respect their wisdom if for no other reason than it's thousands of years old. Too often, born and bred Americans overlook that we are not the only culture in the world. We try to westernize people who don't have a clue what a multi-cultural society is or what tolerance for multi-cultures means.
Whenever I look into the face of any Oriental here in the US, I wonder how many thousands of years of ancestry they possess. The greatest difficulty Americans have in dealing with China is our refusal to understand that they cannot wipe away their ancestry so easily.
Thousands of years old. Soooooooo, why are they just coming out of 3rd world existence NOW?
Because they are copying the western world culture.
And you speak from a childish outlook that only parrots what you were taught in school. You are not aware of your own cultural filter. I'll bet you have never been to China and consider any society except those built on "western wold culture" to be inferior. You speak from ignorance.
ewent, China is not a unilateral culture by any stretch of imagination, it is a bigger melt pot than US ever was or ever will be, China just had thousands of years to melt everything together.
China has 56 minority groups, and Han group is not one ethnic group originally. In the Han group alone there were dozens if not hundreds of different language groups, and at least as many ethnic groups.
With respect to religion China has countless local beliefs, loosely joined together by the Confucious way of acceptance. Major groups include the prominent Buddaism and Taoism, minor groups include Muslims and Christians.
China has a more even distribution of religion than the west, with more Christians than Italy and France put together, and more Muslims than Iraq and Afghanistan put together. Different religious groups are much better represented in the government in China than in the west, in fact the current vice prime minister is Muslim, once USA give Clinton's job to a Muslim we can talk about cultural/religious diversity.
It's a matter of accepting their differences, the one thing all Chinese must learn, that often give China the appearance of a unilateral culture.
Stupid article
Many of these authors are young, uneducated, and oblivious. They tend to be so idealistic but fail to see the real situation. They look at everything through their young 21st Century lens with American arrogance. I'm American but it's pieces like these that exemplify why the world hates us so often. Basically we tell them they must live like us.
Rob99...Would that we could possess the serenity of the Chinese. Which one of us should we try to force on the Chinese? We can't even get the north and south to agree that the Civil War is over. We can't even get born and bred Americans to learn that our newest Americans have a right to our tolerance until they figure out how they can assimilate.
If you are born in a cave in Peru, you have no clue how to deal with 6 cultures different from yours. So, you'll become isolated from the rest rather than try to blend in. Blending cultures into a one world culture isn't as easy as waving a magic wand. And, I'm not so sure I'd like a world with such a patent on similarity.
The Chinese will crush us. They have the looong view, whereas we (US) barely look at the next ten years. We are self-indulgent, steroidal bullies on a world stage, and we aren't here for long. I shake my head at the bible thumpers stating USA is protected by god. FFS, that is so insane. Even if there was a god, why in the hell would he protect us. A nation built on dead bodies. A morally bankrupt heap of debt and despair. Anyway....ya'll have a super day!
"China! There lies a sleeping giant! Let him sleep, for someday he shall awake and then the Earth shall trimble." ----- Napolian Buonaparte
God did not design woman to lead that is where problem comes in. The bible said that woman should be a help meat for her husband, not lead him.God put man in charge because woman are to emotional they act on feelings and not logic no matter how good of a job it may seem like their doing. I guess this is why china is doing so well, look at all the countries that doesn't have woman in leadership position they are more stable
Yeah! All those mid East countries that don't have women leaders! See how stable they are! Also, somebody said Chinese ancestry goes back much further than ours. Sorry to burst your bubble, but ALL OF US go back to the Garden of Eden, whether or not it is the literal Garden described in the Bible or the symbolic one going back to our African origins. We ALL go back there!
Men are more stable? You mean Kim Jong Il, Hitler, and God-Daffy? Remember what I said above, about equality in religion? Men made up all the western religions, and put themselves in charge. That's egocentricity, not stability.
I agree in a sense. I believe that men are simply drawn to these positions more than women - be it biological or cultural. It may not necessarily mean a lack of empowerment/progress. Look at most jobs, and you'll find gender disparity. My girlfriend works at a school with an all female staff. Does that mean that males are being discriminated against, or that they lack opportunities? Government/leadership has always been dominated by men. That doesn't mean that they're smarter or better, that's just how it is...Regarding whether men are better leaders or more stable - my theory is that men are at both ends of the spectrum, with women in the middle. Men become presidents, genius scientists, senators, and doctors - but they're also 90 percent of criminals, pedophiles, etc. Women are more likely to be decent, middle-of-the-road, well-adjusted. That's my working theory at least.
Joseph Phillips: Are you speaking of Mao Tse-Tung?? If so, at least spell it correctly.
Both spellings are totally acceptable. Funny, when I googled 'Mao Tse-Tung', the very first site that popped up explained this. Not that you need Google to figure this out. Countless news stories, books and journal articles will use one or even both of the spellings. 'Mao Tse-Tung' is an older transliteration based on an early romanization of Chinese words, while Mao Zedong is the accepted transliteration based on PRC-mandated romanization.
Where are the women leaders in America? Women earn less compared to men, they are still subject to violence, and women are not taken as seriously as they should be. Before we start pointing fingers, and trying to decode other countries and their problems, we need to focus on ours and set goals to fix them.
Except for Palin, Clinton and a few others the US women are home making cookies or working in government jobs.
I just love it when we try to assess another culture from within our own worldview. That's to be expected, but if we're at all honest we'll realize just how silly that is. That last comment declaring the image of a beautiful woman of China is a case in point. So some Chinese recognize beauty and are willing to acknowledge it! What is wrong with that? Let me say that many ethnic Chinese women in America think about beauty as it relates to their own diets. They balance what Chinese call "heaty" foods against what they call "cooling" foods. This balance is central to THEIR worldview. I would say that if Americans had anywhere near China's awareness of balance, we would not be dodging golf carts in Wal-mart and our grocery store aisles would not be 5 times as wide as they were in the 1970s. Let's be clear! We are not healthy as a nation, and it's showing up in a lot of ways, including our excessive fear of recognizing beauty.
D_Loominator - you are the man! You are 100% true. That's why I, as an American straight, white, conservative male, have left America for good. And where am I now? In Russia. That's right. Oddly enough as it may sound for those who have never left Kansas, Russia is the coolest place on the globe for normal people. Like a bunch of Texans but a lot more intelligent, worldly, and not 'God and guns'. In short - and this might sound strange - non-religious, theater-going people who read the world news and talk about history but love to fight, drink, smoke, eat meat, wear fur, and have sex. Where women are women and men are men. Where Bruce Willis in Die Hard 1 is respected. D_Loominator, you would love it over here. Especially since I have lived in many states and can honestly tell you that the WOMEN over here are second to none. The percentages of unbelievable women over here kill anything in Miami, New York, Houston, California, etc, etc, etc. And getting on the Net ain't the same thing as being over here. Just let me know and we can form a brotherhood.......
Hold on.. the Chinese obviously have to do more to assure adequate representation for women in leadership, but seriously.. have MSNBC's reporters bothered looking at the gender ratio of the US Congress? 17 of 100 Senators and 75 of 435 members of the House is, well, 17% of each House (coincidence I guess)... 6 of 20 members of President Obama's cabinet is more impressive, but that more expresses our president's own progressive credentials than anything else. Bush's cabinet had fewer women. And China at least has had the recently retired Wu Yi. We have yet to have a female VP. Methinks MSNBC's reporters need to look in the mirror. Everytime I've been in China on business, I'm always impressed how many female executives there are...
Come on.. get real.
in a sense chinese government does consider the mood of majority of chinese. otherwise they won't bother try to lower the inflation, or increase the economic growth. we seen many examples of how chinese government change their policies or back away after every major "internet protest".
they are try to make majority of chinese happy so chinese won't revolt against the government. for example the recuse response for earth quake back in 2008 was MUCH faster compare to Katrina. another example is chinese government evacuate 30,000 chinse from libya within a week, while US send a underweight ferry try to evacuate its own citizen. there are tons example like these
Besides the woeful underpresentation of women in the US Congress (the Chinese NPC actually has a higher ratio), look at the composition of women in the US Cabinet: Secretary of State (impressive.. and Hillary Clinton is no doubt one of the most powerful women in the world), Janet Napolitano (also impressive, Homeland Security).. but the rest? Labor, Health & Human Services, EPA Administrator and UN Representative. Plus 14 men.
Then there's our labor statistics. According to the US Dept of Labor (headed by a woman, Hilda Solis, I should add),
46.8% of the labor force with the 20 more prevalent occupations in 2009:
- secretaries & administrative assistants (3.1 million)
- nurses (2.6 million)
- elementary and middle school teachers (2.3 million)
In fact, the first non-stereotypically female occupation on the list is all the way down at #12 (book-keepers/auditing clerks), #15 (managers), and #16 (auditors/accountants). No other non-stereotypically female profession even makes the top 20 for American women. So much for gender equity.
The median weekly wage of American women is $657 ($34k per year), versus $819 for men ($43 per year).
China's women leaders are still a couple of hundred years down the road.
As the Chinese legislature deliberates on the laws and policy for China, for the next five years of the second decade of the 21t Century, they should consider given Chinese women equal access to the corridors of power in China. Women being the weaker and fairer sex can influence power decisions and policies for the good of the entire Chinese nation, and can also direct policies for the welfare and well-being of children and women in particular. In our sojourn into the 21st century it should not be too long for us to have a woman Chinese Prime Minister or even President. The question is, is China ready? We believe as the Chinese lawmakers deliberate on reforms to the political system and the economy, they must of neccesity factor in the women factor and their unique role in national development. For as in the developing world, we are taking note of the changes occuring around the world, and do recognise that China plays a major role in the geo-political dynamics of our world and we believe that Chinese women if given the chance can help make the world a better place.
How can you have women leaders in a country where the only choice is to marry well-off, be critically poor or become a sex slave? You can't because the women are being eaten by the people who keep them in this state.
How far away is America in becoming like this? Probably less than 2 generations.
Where are Chinese women leaders ? In bedrooms of male leaders, of course,... of various countries.
Women are going to rule this country, and that is for sure. There is one thing that the human race wants to do. That has always been to prove they can do better than the other. The people want to compete. Modern technology brought into this world is all about precision, and used to outdo your opponent before they have a chance to act; kind of like, catching your opponent off guard. That is why humans are taught to speak, think, live life faster (heart attack lifestyle), etc…. Well, with our allies who think the same, we are going to all destroy ourselves… the A – Bombs in foreign countries have our name on it, just waiting to go off… all in a matter of time. Where else can the human race go except back to beginning?
Women are going to rule this country, and that is for sure. There is one thing that the human race wants to do. That has always been to prove they can do better than the other. The people want to compete. Modern technology brought into this world is all about precision, and used to outdo your opponent before they have a chance to act; kind of like, catching your opponent off guard. That is why humans are taught to speak, think, live life faster (heart attack lifestyle), etc…. Well, with our allies who think the same, we are going to all destroy ourselves… the A – Bomb in foreign countries have our name on it just waiting to go off… all in a matter of time. Where else can the human race go except back to beginning? The battle is in your mind...
Well interesting China will emerge as next biggest economy, and all without the cultural, and gender sensitivity
we in the west appear to value so highly, guess we will have the moral high ground ,,,while their woman will drive all the shiney new cars,nice clothes,schools,perks of a growing economy.