Women in Modern-Day Chinese Society

Women in Modern-Day Chinese Society

[Preface]

This is my Toastmaster Communication Program number 9 speech (Persuade with Power) at the SpeakerEasy@SunBeijing club.

[Text]

[prop: Show campaign material "Hillary Clinton for President: Unleashing American Innovation" mailed to my Campbell, California home.]

Dear fellow Toastmasters and guests, I answered questions a few times from friends here discussing the possibility of Hillary Clinton becoming the President of the United States. After addressing the questions, I often turned around and asked about the possibility of a woman President for China, and when that might be? Each time, I got a blank face without any conviction of that possibility in the foreseeable future. This leads to my topic today "Women in Modern-Day Chinese Society."

How many of you went to see the 2008 Beijing Auto Expo? Many told me that it is a show where you can see many beautiful women showing off their flesh. I can close my eyes and imagine the feeding frenzy of those eyeballs. This situation is really pathetic to me. We have bad TV influences and serious stereotyping of women in China. Women are seen as beautiful and subservient objects.

Now let us look at where women have their influences in the modern Chinese society. According to the statistics in Women in Politics 2007, the National People's Congress in China has about 20% women out of the 3000 or so members. This percentage is actually higher than the 16% in the United States Congress. Do women in China really have this sort of influence? I have serious reservations.

Another statistic might reflect better the reality for us. According to an article at the conclusion of the Chinese Communist Party's 17th Party Congress in South China Morning Post October 22, 2007, there are 13 women in the Central Committee among the 204 full members this year, compared with five among the 198 full members in 2002. In five years, we moved from 2.5 percent to 6.5 percent in women representation. Is this progress fast enough?

What should be a reasonable goal for changing this situation? Women should not be just the decoration of our society, and women should not be just beautiful objects appreciated by men and by the society as a whole. Something has to change.

We should not aim to switch roles, but to expand the role of women in general. The participation of women does not mean the replacement of men. Women should not be content at being patronized, for example, getting an extra day of vacation every year. What we want is equal opportunity and equal pay for equal work.

What is the downside if we don't get engaged? Remember that half of the people's power comes from women. We'll lose half of the collective power and wisdom, and it is a huge loss. Besides, there cannot be a harmonious society when our women cannot develop fully and have their aspirations fulfilled, especially when they see women in other societies participate in all aspects of the social, economical and political processes.

What can you do to lead the changes? First, get women educated, and make sure that little girls get the same opportunities to get educated as their counterparts. Second, be a pioneer in engineering, medicine, management, politics and all other walks of life. Third, lend mutual support to women in need. Speak out in appropriate venues and be a role model. Lastly, boycott activities and events that further the stereotyping of women such as the 2008 Beijing Auto Expo.

You must have a woman close to your heart, your sister, your daughter, or your mother. They all deserve the same opportunity to fulfill their dreams and aspirations. They should become full partners in our society. What should we all, women and men, do? Get women educated, participate, offer support, speak out, and lead the changes.