Women are the rising stars in the New China - Building Gender Balanced Business

China is producing many of the world’s richest female entrepreneurs, but it is not just because of the country’s economic growth. The success of Chinese women in the business world is a legacy of communism and Mao Zedong’s proclamation that “Women hold up half the sky”. It is also the result of an attitude towards mothering that is dramatically different from the one that prevails in the Western world.

The three wealthiest self-made women are from China, and 11 of the 20 female billionaires worldwide are Chinese. What accounts for this great success among Chinese women?

- In China, there is no social stigma attached to a woman choosing to focus on her career rather than child-rearing

- Even prior to communism, women who could afford nannies usually had them

- The Chinese culture does not emphasize the importance of early childhood development, so mothers don’t feel guilty about missing their child’s formative years

- The tradition of grandparents taking care of grandchildren and easy availability of other forms of childcare make it easier for Chinese women to continue working outside the home

- The one-child policy that many Chinese couples must adhere to also makes it easier for women to juggle both work and family

- China’s economic growth has also given women entrepreneurs a boost

- Another factor in female success may be that the Chinese culture rewards compliance, and young women – who tend to be more obedient students – gain confidence during their school years

Many traditional families still strongly prefer boys, proving that China has still not completely succeeded in attaining gender equality

On the other hand, many urban families now say they prefer girls because they are cheaper to raise and show more responsibility towards the care of family members

China is clearly a place where women thrive in the workplace, but even still, one Chinese business woman asserts that “Women need to be twice as good to get the same job”.

Click here for the full article by Patti Waldmeir