Women's Managerial Careers in China in a Period of Reform

Abstract

This contribution examines the opportunities for and barriers to women's managerial careers in China, drawing on first-hand empirical data and existing literature. It focuses on four groups of managers: managerial leaders in government administration, academics in higher education, entrepreneurs in private and self-employed businesses, and rural women managers. The paper explores the Chinese characteristics of gender inequality in management careers against the current political and economic background. It highlights the low level in both quantity and hierarchy of women in management. The contribution argues that women are discouraged managerial candidates for a number of legislative, social and personal reasons.

Keywords:

• Gender
• management
• career
• entrepreneurship
• social expectation
• China

Notes

 1 A total of 2,000 students in 10 universities in Shanghai were surveyed, 1977 returned, 86 per cent were female.