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http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/15090074-1.htm
China – Stereotypes Still Linger Among Female Entrepreneurs - Survey
Editor: Kate
Wu – September 1, 2015
|
Graph showing the age group, degrees of education,
professional titles and scales of business of women entrepreneurs in China’s
business hub Guangdong [Guangzhou Daily] |
The traditional gender stereotype still remains an
obstacle for women who want to develop their own businesses, according to the
latest survey.
Whilst believing
that they can do as well as men in terms of career, nearly 60 percent of
entrepreneurial women in China's business hub Guangdong share the view that
helping their husbands develop a business matters more than pursuing their own
endeavor.
The survey
results, released by the Guangdong Association of Women Entrepreneurs on August
31, show that businesswomen in the southern province typically have higher
levels of education than average. Nearly 69 percent hold degrees from junior
college or above, compared to 15 percent found among other local females.
In spite of the
high education, they pay great attention to further study, especially in modern
enterprise management. The survey showed some 79 percent of them pursued
further study. Of them, 52 percent joined either EMBA or MBA courses, up 18
percentage points from in 2004. Around 17 percent studied further overseas.
Although some 98
percent of women in the province believe that couples are independent of each
other and should give equal mutual support, 95 percent hold the idea that women
can do whatever men can achieve, whilst 58 percent endorse the idea that it is
more important to help their husbands rather than pursue their own independent
career start-up plans. Just under half agree that men and women should retire
at the same age.
Such concepts are
the results of their awareness that men and women are not equal in reality,
analysts said.
Around 96 percent
of the businesswomen pointed out that female entrepreneurs have to sacrifice
more for success than men, and 82 percent said women are often faced with the
conflicts between family affairs and career.
These figures show
that women still face the pinch of the traditional stereotype that confines
them to family responsibilities despite their confidence in doing a good job.
The respondents of
the survey averaged 45 years old, ranging from 23 to 68.
Nearly 80 percent
of them operate privately-run enterprises. Nearly 90 percent manage small and
medium businesses.
The respondents
came from various sectors, but are mostly concentrated in manufacturing,
wholesale, retail and domestic services. More than half of the enterprises are
labor intensive and only 22 percent are technology intensive. Among those
women, the percentage of companies they own which are in the finance and IT
sectors stands at a tiny 5.6 percent.
Over a half of
them have a clear position and development plan for their companies. Some 73
percent have built new brand names, while 66 percent possess trademarks.
They are also
actively engaged in public and political affairs, with a majority of them
joining social organizations. Around 25 percent of them are members of the
Communist Party of China, a rise of 21 percentage points from the figure in
2004. Some 25 percent act as deputies of the local or national committee of the
National People's Congress and members of the local or national committee of
the Chinese People's Political Consultative Congress, up 20 percent from 2004.
The women
respondents yearn for more capital resources to further business development
and technical innovation, according to the report.
(Source: Guangzhou Daily/Translated and edited by Women of China)