Despite the progress made in recent decades, the Chinese woman he continues to be in a certain position of inferiority with respect to man. This condition has been the case throughout the millennial history of the country. Until relatively recently, in China there was a cultural preference towards men that was linked to the subjection of women.
After the implementation of the People's Republic of China it seemed that this was finally going to change (not in vain the Mao Zedong went so far as to assert that "women hold up half the sky"), but international observers claim that women still remain in a position of inferiority within Chinese society.
Chinese women in the family
The old Chinese customs regarding marriage forced women to live with the husband's family, where they had to remain even after the latter's death. Her main role was to have children and take care of the home.
A terrible practice for women, which fortunately was eradicated in the early twentieth century, is that of bandaged feet. This custom was applied only to older daughters with the idea of achieving an advantageous marriage, since the deformations caused by this bandage were considered attractive as well as a mark of distinction. The reality was that girls subjected to foot wrapping ended up with restricted mobility and endured a lot of pain.
In 1950 the People's Republic of China established the Marriage law, which suppressed the old traditions of female subordination and, among other things, allowed women for the first time to make their own decisions regarding marriage. However, it took three more decades for the arranged marriages were abolished. The same happened with traditions like concubinage, polygamy and bigamy that were still deeply rooted.
Despite spectacular progress, the percentage of Chinese women in the access to higher education it is still far inferior to that of men. The great problem of domestic violence.
The Zuoyuezi or "make the month." An ancient Chinese tradition around motherhood.
The Zuoyuezi
In China an old custom linked to motherhood is still very much alive: zuoyuezi, a term that can be translated as "make the month."
When Chinese women give birth, they must stay at home resting and caring for the baby for 30 days. The rules are very strict: the mother must follow a special diet without being able to move out of bed and without receiving more visits than those of the closest family. He also cannot use the phone or watch television. They are not even allowed to shower or bathe beyond a minimum cleanliness.
In recent years the Zuoyuezi begins to be frowned upon by modern Chinese society, both because of its unhygienic nature and because it is considered harmful to the mental balance of mothers.
Beauty and health
Chinese women are admired all over the world for their beauty and youthful appearance regardless of their age.
The truth is that the women of this country spend a lot on personal care. In fact, the domestic consumption of cosmetics is enormous. The canon of traditional beauty in China is summarized in a series of determined physical features: large eyes, raised nose, small mouth, and fair skin. For this reason, unlike Western women, Chinese women do not like to tan in the sun. What's more, many often use skin bleaches.
The facekini, the curious garment used by Chinese women to avoid the effects of the sun on the face
This "fear of the sun" was the reason that the peculiar facekini. This swimwear began to be used a few years ago in the Asian country. The women covered their heads with it, thus preventing the sun from burning their faces on beach days.
These cares are not merely aesthetic, but are also aimed at a good health. Women in China take great care of their eating. There is a series of foods considered "feminine" such as ginger, black sesame or jojoba, which, in addition to rejuvenating, promote fertility.
It is also said that chinese women hate cold, which they consider as harmful to the greeting as the sun. For this reason, they avoid eating ice cream or drinking water that is too cold, even in the hottest months of summer.
Chinese women in the world of work
Chinese women in the world of work
China is one of the countries in the world with higher female employment rate (around 43%). There is a state law that prohibits the posting of "men only" job postings.
However, it is a reality that the role of women in the world of work in China remains secondary. Women often play less important and lower paid tasksWith "prestigious" jobs being reserved in practice almost exclusively for male workers.
Efforts to equalize weight between men and women in this regard collide with the old traditional mindset of the Chinese. This has resulted in a number of professions considered feminine (for example, sales clerk). Similarly, the presence of women in the management teams of companies or in the management of public bodies is minimal.