Capableness: Fundamental for Women to Step into Political Life

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 27, 2003

Capableness: Fundamental for Women to Step into Political Life

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Under the circumstances of market economy, there is no such practice as 'lady first' in the political arena," said Meng Yanxi, president of Shanghai Women's Federation at the Ninth National Congress of Chinese Women. "We've stressed time and again that the proportion of women's participation in political life should be increased. Yet the increase, in the final analysis, depends on the enhancement of women's own quality."

Meng Yanxi noted that there are always some barriers on the road for women to participate in the government and political affairs, therefore we go around trying to clear away these obstacles and even map out a series of policies and measures. However, what we can do is just to help boost those qualified to where they are suitable rather than to make places for those disqualified.

In this regard, the capableness constitutes the precondition for women to participate and administer the government and political affairs, reckoned Xu Peili, Party secretary of Shanghai Institute of Computing Technology and former vice-president of Shanghai Women's Federation. And the kernel of the women work should be shifted to help them with ability building.

At present, China sill reports a lower degree in women's participation in, and administration of, the state and social affairs. The proportion of women deputies to the National People's Congress has long ranged at around 21 percent, as shown by 21.82 percent during the 9th NPC, and a decrease of 1.58 percentage points down to 20.24 percent during the 10th NPC.

As Meng Yanxi put it, "The international ranking of Chinese women participating in political life dropped from the 12th in 1994 to the 28th in 2002 and will probably continue to fall in the next five years. The reason is none other than the restrictive factors still in existence that have long hindered women participating in the administration of the state affairs."

First, it is difficult to put right discrimination against women in the political sphere. Women lack an equal opportunity to enter organs of power. Even though they enter a leading group, they act as a deputy. Second, people often lack a mature and natural psychology to admit women leaders. Once a woman becomes "the stronger", the appreciation for her is likely to waver to the exclusion and depreciation, which sends a chill to the enthusiasm of women for political participation and undermines their consciousness to forge ahead. In addition, as for women themselves, they have some psychological barriers. Under the domination of a system where the value and mode of thinking is a masculine society, the gender behavioral criterion as "men handling the external matters while women looking after the home" imperceptibly saps women's enterprising spirit, crippling their competitiveness.

Nonetheless, the range and level of women's participation in social affairs, in the final analysis, hinge on their own quality and competitiveness. With the improvement of respect for women in social environment and recognition of woman human resources, there have been fewer difficulties for them to participate in political life as did before. So it is inevitable for the disparity to emerge in women's administrative level, ability, courage, etc.

Rong Hua, president of Beijing Women's Federation, shared a similar view. Early in 2001, Beijing made a Development Plan for Women during the 10th Five-year Plan Period. In line with the plan, a clear-cut target was set to increase the proportion of women directors-general from the previous 15 percent to over 20 percent, while women division-directors in party and government organs to attain 25 percent.

Rong Hua said, "Every year Beijing Women's Federation recommends 50 women director-general reserve cadres to the Organization Department of CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, in a bid to provide women an equal opportunity rather than a privilege."

"Figures are the most eloquent proof. Although years have gone by since the development plan was worked out, Beijing still witnesses a 16.7-percent proportion of women director-generals, while that for women division directors falls short of the required either."

Rong Hua added, "At present we are now intensifying the fostering of women reserve cadres so as to increase the scope and scale for choice, and more women cadres of high quality will eventually step onto the leading posts.

By PD Online Staff Zhu Lizhen

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