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In Chinese tradition， it is a virtue for women to look after their children and take care of housework in order to support their husbands’ careers. However， with the progress of society and the rise of education levels over the past few decades， more and more women are realizing the importance of being independent. As a result， the majority of Chinese women in urban areas are employed. Also， rising living costs mean that men alone cannot support the whole family， pushing women to seek jobs.
According to the Report on Major Results of the Third Survey on the Social Status of Women in China by the All-China Women’s Federation published in 2011， 70 percent of urban women aged 18 to 64 are employed， the highest in the world. The survey is conducted every 10 years.
In China， although women’s reasons for working differ among individuals and over time， they share one thing in common： They all want to be financially independent.
Financial independence
Dong Shifang， a 30-year-old saleswoman in Laiwu， east China’s Shandong Province， used to be a full-time housewife. She gave up work as a cashier after giving birth to her son five years ago in order to look after the baby. However， she resumed employment one and a half years later as a salesperson.
“When I stayed at home with no job， I had to ask my husband for money whenever I needed to buy anything. Now with a salary of 2，000 yuan （$321） a month， I spend my own money，”Dong said.
She added that her share of the housework has lessened since she started working again.“In the past， I did most of the house chores. But now my husband does 80 percent as he has more free time.”
For Dong， employment makes life more interesting. She started to work again not only because her husband’s income alone was insufficient to support the family， but because she felt the need to do so.
“When I was a stay-at-home mom， I knew nothing about what happened outside，” Dong said. “Now I talk with my colleagues when I have time at work and I feel very happy.”
Dong’s case sheds light on the importance of employment among women and how a woman’s employment status can affect their family’s social status in China.
For Dou Shuofeng， a 55-year-old woman already retired from a hospital job in Shandong Province five years ago， being employed was a big honor.
When she started work in the 1970s after graduating from high school， Dou could obtain work because both her parents held urban hukou or household registrations. A job at a hospital， which is a public institution， meant an“iron bowl” and won her much admiration and respect from her folks. “I felt superior to some other women at that time and having a stable job even made it easier for me to find a husband，” she said.
Dou added that her job was very important for her and she has never considered giving it up to be a housewife， as her salary fed the family. “Without a job I would not have been able to support myself and raise my child.”
However， for Liu Qian， a 39-year-old woman who works at a middle school in Beijing， the most important reason for work is to make a living.
Expenses are high in the big metropolis. With surging house prices， people in the city suffer enormous pressures.
When Liu was asked why she works， she gave a rather simple answer： “For a living！”
“A woman should not have to rely on anyone， but be financially independent because nobody is reliable， including your husband，” she said.
Besides satisfying the basic need to live and being financially independent， work means much more for the younger generation women who are highly educated. Fang Shan is such a woman.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in English from Beijing Foreign Studies University and a master’s degree in integrated marketing from the U.S. Northwestern University， her reason for work goes beyond satisfying basic needs.
Currently marketing director of a hi-tech start-up company in Suzhou， east China’s Jiangsu Province， Fang said work enables her to realize her personal value.
“Work makes my life more meaningful and interesting. I am doing something I feel excited about，” she said.
Fang added that her job gave her a sense of fulfillment. She would face up to any difficulties to achieve her goals.
Rising status
According to a report issued by China CITIC Bank in January， 37 percent of urban women’s salaries account for more than half of total family earnings.
With rising income amongst women comes improved family status.
According to the aforementioned report by the All-China Women’s Federation， 85 percent of women are satisfied with their status in the family. More than 70 percent take part in property purchasing and other types of financial investment.
In addition， about 40 percent take charge of family income while another 40 percent manage incomes together with their husbands.
As many women assume the role of mother， daughter and wife at the same time， they decide what products to buy for their children， parents and husbands. According to statistics from cosmetics e-commerce website Lefeng， 77.3 percent of married women in China decide what food， clothing and daily items to buy. During the past Spring Festival， women constituted the majority of customers at shopping malls， with their spending focused on clothing and cosmetics. In addition， digital products and travel have become new spending options.
“If I don’t have a job， I will have to ask my husband for money. He may look down on me. Even my mother-in-law might think I’m useless and live off others，” said Dou.
“Your family status is to a large extent de- cided by your income，” Fang said.
The latter noted that having no income would make her feel insecure. “With a stable salary， I can shop and travel using my own money.”
Back in university， Fang felt the importance of being financially independent because at that time， she made enough money to cover her tuition fees and living expenses by working as a tutor and an assistant for a company. Not forced to live off her parents， she was responsible for her own decisions.
“It’s the same in my relationship with my husband.”
Although Fang’s husband earns a higher income， which can support the whole family， and doesn’t mind if Fang quits her job， she still insists on working and saving on her own.
She said working has won her respect from her family. When she shares her experience with her husband or parents-in-law， she feels proud.
“They think I am capable of adding value to my family life if I work，” Fang explained.
In southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality， it has become common for men to listen to their wives before making major financial decisions. According to a survey， 22 percent of women in the city own properties while 33 percent share them with their husbands， both higher than the national average. About 95 percent of women can buy expensive items and give financial support to their parents of their own will.
Zhou Xiaoyan， a professor at Chongqing Normal University， said many men in other parts of China consider it shameful to be afraid of their wives， but Chongqing males don’t mind that big family decisions are made by their spouses.
Difficulties
Although women now enjoy higher family and social status for being employed， they are facing difficulties balancing family and work， as the traditional view that women should do housework and take care of the children and the elderly still persists.
Fang said she has tried hard and compromised to balance work and family. She has given up her job at a company in the United States， which promised more opportunity， to return to Jiangsu Province where her husband works. In order to achieve career success， women also have to work harder.
A Chinese women’s rights protection law implemented in 1992 stipulates that women should not be dismissed for getting married， pregnant or taking maternity leave. The country is currently considering implementing a maternity insurance law.
However， discrimination against women in the workplace still exists.
Fang said about 80 percent of those at the decision-making level of companies she has worked with are male. As women are considered emotional and irresolute， often burdened with the responsibility of childcare， company leaders favor men to take up important posts.
If women want to be successful in their careers， they have to make a lot of sacrifices. Fang said she has many female friends who have achieved success， but remain single. She herself hasn’t had a baby although she is already 32 in order to better focus on her career.
“It’s unfair， but this is reality and there is nothing I can do about it，” said Fang.
According to the Report on Major Results of the Third Survey on the Social Status of Women in China by the All-China Women’s Federation published in 2011， 70 percent of urban women aged 18 to 64 are employed， the highest in the world. The survey is conducted every 10 years.
In China， although women’s reasons for working differ among individuals and over time， they share one thing in common： They all want to be financially independent.
Financial independence
Dong Shifang， a 30-year-old saleswoman in Laiwu， east China’s Shandong Province， used to be a full-time housewife. She gave up work as a cashier after giving birth to her son five years ago in order to look after the baby. However， she resumed employment one and a half years later as a salesperson.
“When I stayed at home with no job， I had to ask my husband for money whenever I needed to buy anything. Now with a salary of 2，000 yuan （$321） a month， I spend my own money，”Dong said.
She added that her share of the housework has lessened since she started working again.“In the past， I did most of the house chores. But now my husband does 80 percent as he has more free time.”
For Dong， employment makes life more interesting. She started to work again not only because her husband’s income alone was insufficient to support the family， but because she felt the need to do so.
“When I was a stay-at-home mom， I knew nothing about what happened outside，” Dong said. “Now I talk with my colleagues when I have time at work and I feel very happy.”
Dong’s case sheds light on the importance of employment among women and how a woman’s employment status can affect their family’s social status in China.
For Dou Shuofeng， a 55-year-old woman already retired from a hospital job in Shandong Province five years ago， being employed was a big honor.
When she started work in the 1970s after graduating from high school， Dou could obtain work because both her parents held urban hukou or household registrations. A job at a hospital， which is a public institution， meant an“iron bowl” and won her much admiration and respect from her folks. “I felt superior to some other women at that time and having a stable job even made it easier for me to find a husband，” she said.
Dou added that her job was very important for her and she has never considered giving it up to be a housewife， as her salary fed the family. “Without a job I would not have been able to support myself and raise my child.”
However， for Liu Qian， a 39-year-old woman who works at a middle school in Beijing， the most important reason for work is to make a living.
Expenses are high in the big metropolis. With surging house prices， people in the city suffer enormous pressures.
When Liu was asked why she works， she gave a rather simple answer： “For a living！”
“A woman should not have to rely on anyone， but be financially independent because nobody is reliable， including your husband，” she said.
Besides satisfying the basic need to live and being financially independent， work means much more for the younger generation women who are highly educated. Fang Shan is such a woman.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in English from Beijing Foreign Studies University and a master’s degree in integrated marketing from the U.S. Northwestern University， her reason for work goes beyond satisfying basic needs.
Currently marketing director of a hi-tech start-up company in Suzhou， east China’s Jiangsu Province， Fang said work enables her to realize her personal value.
“Work makes my life more meaningful and interesting. I am doing something I feel excited about，” she said.
Fang added that her job gave her a sense of fulfillment. She would face up to any difficulties to achieve her goals.
Rising status
According to a report issued by China CITIC Bank in January， 37 percent of urban women’s salaries account for more than half of total family earnings.
With rising income amongst women comes improved family status.
According to the aforementioned report by the All-China Women’s Federation， 85 percent of women are satisfied with their status in the family. More than 70 percent take part in property purchasing and other types of financial investment.
In addition， about 40 percent take charge of family income while another 40 percent manage incomes together with their husbands.
As many women assume the role of mother， daughter and wife at the same time， they decide what products to buy for their children， parents and husbands. According to statistics from cosmetics e-commerce website Lefeng， 77.3 percent of married women in China decide what food， clothing and daily items to buy. During the past Spring Festival， women constituted the majority of customers at shopping malls， with their spending focused on clothing and cosmetics. In addition， digital products and travel have become new spending options.
“If I don’t have a job， I will have to ask my husband for money. He may look down on me. Even my mother-in-law might think I’m useless and live off others，” said Dou.
“Your family status is to a large extent de- cided by your income，” Fang said.
The latter noted that having no income would make her feel insecure. “With a stable salary， I can shop and travel using my own money.”
Back in university， Fang felt the importance of being financially independent because at that time， she made enough money to cover her tuition fees and living expenses by working as a tutor and an assistant for a company. Not forced to live off her parents， she was responsible for her own decisions.
“It’s the same in my relationship with my husband.”
Although Fang’s husband earns a higher income， which can support the whole family， and doesn’t mind if Fang quits her job， she still insists on working and saving on her own.
She said working has won her respect from her family. When she shares her experience with her husband or parents-in-law， she feels proud.
“They think I am capable of adding value to my family life if I work，” Fang explained.
In southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality， it has become common for men to listen to their wives before making major financial decisions. According to a survey， 22 percent of women in the city own properties while 33 percent share them with their husbands， both higher than the national average. About 95 percent of women can buy expensive items and give financial support to their parents of their own will.
Zhou Xiaoyan， a professor at Chongqing Normal University， said many men in other parts of China consider it shameful to be afraid of their wives， but Chongqing males don’t mind that big family decisions are made by their spouses.
Difficulties
Although women now enjoy higher family and social status for being employed， they are facing difficulties balancing family and work， as the traditional view that women should do housework and take care of the children and the elderly still persists.
Fang said she has tried hard and compromised to balance work and family. She has given up her job at a company in the United States， which promised more opportunity， to return to Jiangsu Province where her husband works. In order to achieve career success， women also have to work harder.
A Chinese women’s rights protection law implemented in 1992 stipulates that women should not be dismissed for getting married， pregnant or taking maternity leave. The country is currently considering implementing a maternity insurance law.
However， discrimination against women in the workplace still exists.
Fang said about 80 percent of those at the decision-making level of companies she has worked with are male. As women are considered emotional and irresolute， often burdened with the responsibility of childcare， company leaders favor men to take up important posts.
If women want to be successful in their careers， they have to make a lot of sacrifices. Fang said she has many female friends who have achieved success， but remain single. She herself hasn’t had a baby although she is already 32 in order to better focus on her career.
“It’s unfair， but this is reality and there is nothing I can do about it，” said Fang.