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Ren Yan

Every Lunar New Year, the urban professional woman – let’s call her Tracy – returns to her rural hometown, where she quickly drops her city identity for her simple rural name Cuihua, helping her family prepare the holiday meal.
Funny before-and-after pictures emphasising the contrast between sleek blazers and comfortable pyjamas have captivated Chinese social media users. But these social media memes mask a deeper question. How does “Cuihua” become “Tracy”?
Her journey involves more than a change of name; it encompasses the dramatic rise of Chinese women’s social status driven by personal resilience, family support and a nationwide campaign.
Greater awareness of gender equality didn’t happen overnight. Overcoming deep-rooted prejudices requires more than slogans like “women hold up half the sky”.
One of the first laws China introduced after the founding of the People’s Republic was the Marriage Law. Enacted in 1950, it opened with a commitment to “equal rights for men and women”.
In 1995, China hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women. At the conference, 189 governments adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a milestone in global gender equality. Adhering to gender equality and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women and children have been included in the reports of the 18th, 19th and 20th Communist Party national congresses.


My own defining moment came three decades ago. A well-meaning rural relative reminded me to spend less money, as my parents should save for my brother, the family’s “pillar”. The moment was seared into my memory by my father’s response. He would not tolerate anyone suggesting I was less valuable. Looking straight at me, he said, “Whatever your brother has, you have too.” This personal victory, repeated in many homes, reflects the quiet revolution of families investing equally in their daughters.
Achieving equality and empowering all women and girls is not only one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals but also a crucial benchmark for human civilisation. This is a shared global challenge, not China’s alone. To this end, China has launched programmes that share skills and provide technical aid to women in African countries.
Education has been the key driver in removing barriers to women’s advancement. A recent Chinese white paper details the progress made on ensuring women’s educational rights. In 2024, China boasted a 99.9 per cent net enrolment rate for girls in primary school. Girls comprise over 47 per cent of pupils in compulsory education.
Today, women are not just catching up; they are leading, making up just over half of all higher education enrolments and 54 per cent of those in adult undergraduate programmes, according to the white paper.

Behind these numbers are changemakers like Zhang Guimei, the “mom principal”. Her free high school for girls in a remote part of Yunnan province has helped over 2,000 students, many of whom were living in poverty, go to university and rewrite their futures.
This spirit of empowerment is echoed by initiatives like the “Spring Bud Project”, which raised 3.44 billion yuan (US$42.1 billion) by the end of 2024 to support the education of over 4 million girls, enabling more women and girls to benefit from national progress and modernisation.
These efforts are bearing fruit. Women account for 45.8 per cent of all scientific researchers in China. They are claiming their space in emerging fields, comprising 42.3 per cent of certified artificial intelligence trainers in 2024. In the internet sector, women represent over half of the entrepreneurs.
China’s progress is backed by an evolving legal system that turns the ideal of equality into a real and enforceable right. At its heart is the Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests. A 2022 amendment guarantees state support for lifelong learning, aiming to ensure that women have ongoing opportunities for growth.


Backed by China’s constitution and other legal provisions, the law provides a framework for combating the violation of women’s rights.
On a recent trip back to my hometown, I remembered how my father used to drive two hours each way once a month to and from my old high school – a prestigious institution in another city – to pick me up and take me home for the weekend. Later, he watched me leave for university in Beijing, where I eventually settled down, built my career and started a family – becoming a “Tracy” in my own right.
My daughter interrupted my nostalgic daydream. “Mum, can’t we just stay here forever with Grandma and Grandpa?”
I almost considered it. In the two decades since I’d left, my hometown has built libraries, museums, shopping malls and even theme parks. To my little girl, my hometown has it all.

There is a quiet truth underpinning the path towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. It has advanced thanks to the collective efforts of policymakers, educators and parents like my father.
It is about ensuring that my daughter, and every girl in the world, grows up valued and respected. It is about securing her freedom and the right to choose her own path. It is about empowering every woman – whether she’s a “Tracy” in a quiet village or a “Cuihua” in a bustling metropolis – to find the opportunity and respect she needs to take control of her life wherever she decides to call home.


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After decades of struggle, women in China are rewriting their future

Women take a selfie while attending a flag-raising ceremony to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing on October 1. Photo: Xinhua

A teacher instructs girls in a classroom in Luannan county, Hebei province, on October 28, 2022. Photo: Shutterstock 

A woman holds a child near office buildings in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on September 15. Photo: Reuters

State media frames China as women’s rights role model in countdown to global summit

Next week’s Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing has been called a “milestone” in promoting women’s issues and empowerment. Photo: Xinhua

China’s focus turns to women’s rights progress as global summit approaches

Beijing is expected to soon host a global summit on gender equality and women’s empowerment to mark the 30th anniversary of the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women, which was also held in the Chinese capital. Photo: Reuters

The digital economy is seen as a driver of gender equality that could empower women economically. Photo: AP

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A police officer outside the West Kowloon Magistrates Court on September 29. Photo: Karma Lo

Opinion

China Opinion

News

World

China

The quiet revolution towards upholding women’s rights in China isn’t just about slogans but involves the hard work of families, educators and policymakers


The quiet revolution towards upholding women’s rights in China isn’t just about slogans but involves the hard work of families, educators and policymakers.


Women and gender

Human rights

Diversity and inclusion

China education

Education

Gender

Families in China

Lunar New Year

China’s Communist Party

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


After decades of struggle, women in China are rewriting their future

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The quiet revolution towards upholding women’s rights in China isn’t just about slogans but involves the hard work of families, educators and policymakers

The quiet revolution towards upholding women’s rights in China isn’t just about slogans but involves the hard work of families, educators and policymakers