WUNRN
CHINA - WOMEN IN AGEING SOCIETY FACE
CHALLENGES OF SUPPORT, CARE
April 25, 2013 |
By Liu Chang |
Editor: Zhu Yanhong |
|
Challenges Facing
With the development of its economy and society after more than 30 years'
reform and opening-up,
[fjjsw.gov.cn] |
The number of traditional extended families
where there are three or four generations living together in both rural and
urban areas in
In addition, with the increasing number of core families and single-parent
families, changed ideas of women about giving birth and greater numbers of
women migrating to work in areas away from their homes, the number of people
who can take care of the elderly at home is decreasing, especially when women
are the main caregivers for the elderly in a family. A social elderly care
services network to supplement family endowment is needed.
Challenges Facing Chinese Elderly Women
The living expenses of elderly people in
Elderly women mainly depending on family members' - 60 percent of total elderly
women, whose percentage is twice as high as that of elderly men, while 23.72
percent of elderly women mainly depend on their own income and 12.92 percent
mainly depend on retirement pension. Both of the percentages are only half of
men's, which indicates that elderly men and elderly women are very different in
the main ways in which they are supported.
Of the elderly population in
In addition, since their husbands are mostly older than they are, and women's
average life expectancy is longer than men's, it is estimated many of them will
live alone for years after their husbands pass away. In fact, a considerable
amount of elderly women in
Many reasons contribute to these women's disadvantages. In addition to
impairment of the national endowment security and medical security systems,
problems in employment and retirement policies and
Because of
Besides, although elderly women's life expectancy is longer than men's, their
health situations are usually worse than their counterparts. With a smaller
percentage enjoying medical security, elderly women are mainly dependent on the
support of their families or relatives, which places them in vulnerable
situations, especially the large numbers of rural elderly women.
What to Do?
In China's development of elderly care services, the demands of elderly
women have not been met.
Sixty-four percent of elderly over 65 live with their children. The percentage
is even higher in rural areas. Among elderly women, 67 percent of elderly women
aged between 65 and 79 live together with their children. Of elderly women aged
above 80, the percentage is 80 percent.
This indicates China's care for the elderly is mostly family-based. It is more
possible elderly women live with their children.
So, when elderly care services are developed, gender should be taken into
consideration when policies and rules are made. A diverse variety of services
should be provided to meet the demands of elderly women.
In addition, elderly women's rights should be ensured when social policy on
labor security is made, for example, establishing a policy for the same
retirement age for men and women. It is suggested a flexible retirement system
be added to the retirement system. Communities should encourage elderly women
to become involved in the communities' public administration.
What's more, training in various vocational and social skills should be
provided for the elderly. On this, we can learn from the American experience.
In the United States, many colleges and vocational schools provide further
educational opportunities to the elderly, aiming to help them keep up with the
rapid development of society and adapt to their new social roles. Some elderly
learn new skills through study and find new working opportunities. A working
environment and working life can provide the elderly with a strong sense of
belonging and help them define their place in society, which is of great
importance to their spiritual and mental health.
Women's Employment
Women's employment, as an important sector contributing to social and economic
development, is vital to the economic and social status of women and their
endowment as they become old. China's government has consistently advocated
gender equality and equal employment opportunities between men and women.
Chinese women's labor participation rate has maintained a high level over the
past 30 years. Discrimination against and marginalization of women in
employment, however, are still very serious.
Since women's career lives are usually shorter than men's, and pregnancy can
influence their work consistency, many employers are not willing to hire women
and it is common for women lack to promotion opportunities. Women, also, seldom
take part in making important decisions. Among vocational structures, tertiary
industry is still the main industry in which Chinese women are employed.
The national endowment insurance system is not very fair to women. The
retirement age for women is younger than men's. During the hard years of the
reform of state-owned enterprises at the end of last century, many enterprises
encouraged or even forced many women workers to retire even earlier than the
legal retirement age to reduce the number of unemployment. Women have paid the
cost of the reform and yet they haven't enjoyed its achievements.
Some laid-off or unemployed women were thus forced out of the labor market because
of their lack of skills or their ages, which also lowered the actual retirement
age.
Women's younger retirement age, their earlier retirement, lay-offs and
difficulties in reemployment have made the endowment burdens on society and
families heavier.
It is suggested future policy-making related to the endowment insurance system
should show care about the living quality of middle-aged and elderly women,
mainly focusing on their economic security, medical issues, and human resources
development. Supporting policies for women giving birth, child care, and equal
employment should be further implemented.
Conclusion
The entire society should provide sufficient participatory opportunities to
women, and closely connect the development of elderly women with the
sustainable development of society.
Elderly women in the future will put improving their standards of living,
their living environments and their self-worth as their main demands.
Family-based elderly care will still be the main method of endowment while
social elderly care services will be a necessary supplement.
Elderly Chinese women's economic capacity for self support and care is
strengthening on the whole, but rural elderly women and poor urban elderly
women are still very dependent on a family-based elderly care network and
social support.