Comment
Sexism continues in force
By Luke Holden (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-14 09:04
The strangest thing about sexism in China is that most people fail to grasp a deep understanding of what it actually is. They might recognize the concept - perhaps mistaking it for women's rights - but they don't see it in their daily lives.
Sexism, like many forms of prejudice, only survives in a traditional environments and this is how it continues in China.
True, there are more women rising to power everyday in China as reported by the press, such as CRI noting that "Half of the world's 10 wealthiest self-made females are from the Chinese mainland," but pursuing business is not the only career path in China.
To expose sexism, it's necessary to look at jobs with the longest history, the most obvious of which are the national forces.
Recently the PR department of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) made what can only be described as a "major" blunder in the battle of the sexes.
The background to the event was the October national holiday, which publicized the army so effectively that it inspired a recruitment drive in Beijing which made history - for the first time ever women were allowed to apply directly without internal nomination.
The country watched as the once male-dominated institution - reputedly the largest employer in the world - began stringent physical and psychological tests for both genders. This was a moment to remember.
But then it went wrong. To ensure it attracted only the best female candidates and some glorious media attention, their interview was beefed up with a test that would challenge any solider - a lovely talent show.
The public was stunned as women sang and danced, painted pictures or jabbered out a street rap. Some even modeled their slender figures or read poetry to excited, or bored, judges. Male candidates, by the way, were not asked to perform.
Closely following the army for sexism is the police force. It's true that there are already plenty of female officers in the force, but to gauge sexism it's necessary to evaluate the mindset of their male colleagues.
Speaking to a policeman about sexist attitudes is liable to get me in trouble, so I was relieved to find that I could just visit their blog: China's first police blog (blog.sina.com.cn/gongan).
Set up in 2006, it provides gruesome photos of murder scenes which would probably only interest other police officers and perhaps also depressed teenagers. That is of course until you reach the photo album and stumble across the loosely titled Female Police Flowers.
Suddenly, those teenagers aren't quite so depressed.
Don't get me wrong, it's not distasteful or vulgar, it's just a very sexist gallery of pretty policewomen. Once again I question how it is possible that a major organization - and one that should represent the public - has been allowed to get away with such obvious inequality.
In truth I already know the answer. Those people in charge would make a bold statement that they wanted to highlight female beauty, saying no one really minds. Most annoyingly they are right.
Sexism continues in China because the public generally doesn't value it as sexist, instead viewing it as a positive move that promotes beauty and poise in women above all other talents.
One thing is sure though, the media will either soon start championing the cause or instead print their own Chinese version of a "Page 3" girl. Either way, I'll buy a paper.
