The importance, or not, of International Women's Day in China

We’ve often wondered how many Chinese women celebrate International Women’s Day as anything more than a half day of work. Though many companies reward their female employees with time off or gifts on March 8, celebrations of San Ba Fu Nu Jie are low-key, even if it is a national holiday. 

Adding to the holiday confusion, the pronunciation of March 8 in Chinese, “san ba”, sounds exactly like a slur word to describe nosy, gossipy women. It’s an unfortunate coincidence that has given this holiday a bad rap. 

So, is International Women’s Day the Chinese equivalent of our President’s day, a holiday that is mostly meaningful because you get a day off work? Or do the women of China, often seen as equal to men, celebrate it with more significance? We took to the streets to find out.

Name: Jasmine Chen
Native of: Liaoning
Age: 29
Profession: Jazz vocalist/pianist

CNNGo: Is International Women's Day important to Chinese women?

Yes, because it has symbolic significance.

CNNGo: Do you think Chinese women are seen as equal to men in China?

In big cities, women are quite equal to men. But in the countryside, men have higher status then women.

CNNGo: How has the social status of Chinese women changed from your grandmother’s to your mother’s generation and to yours?

In my grandmother’s generation, women had little power. From my mom’s generation, they had the ability to make many more decisions. Still, when it came to choosing careers and husbands, men always had the final say. But I get to make all the decisions in my life.

Actually I didn’t want to be a nu qiang ren [a 'superwoman': a woman who is independent and successful in her career but still single], I wanted to be with a superman, but since that hasn’t happened yet, I’ve been forced to be this strong!

CNNGo: Is there a limit to what Chinese women can do?

No. It’s about how hard you can work, not gender or race.

CNNGo: What do you plan to do on International Women's Day?

It’s my mother’s birthday, so we’ll go shopping and I’ll treat her to a nice dinner.

 

Name: Pan Tangxie
Native of: Shanghai
Age: 48
Profession: Government representative, Changning District

CNNGo: Is International Women's Day important to Chinese women?

Yes, there are not many other holidays that honor women. People are more respectful to [women] on that day.

CNNGo: Do you think Chinese women are seen as equal to men in China?

From an economic, family and political perspective, it’s equal. That’s especially true for Shanghai. We joke that women here are lifting two-thirds of the sky, while men are lifting one-third! But really, Shanghainese men are just very respectful and nice enough to give in to women’s wishes.

CNNGo: How has the social status of Chinese women changed from your grandmother’s to your mother’s generation and to yours?

Our grandmothers' generation of women had no power in society. When their husbands died, they had to listen to their sons. My mom’s generation basically was told that as women, they couldn’t compare to men. Now the education is different. If it’s not that women and men are equal, it’s that we are better! To us [Shanghainese] having a girl is a very happy event -- they are more cute and obedient. Who needs naughty boys?

CNNGo: Is there a limit to what Chinese women can do?

There is a limit on what anyone can do, whether they are men or women.

CNNGo: What do you plan to do on International Women's Day?

I’ll be off to KTV and a nice dinner with my colleagues.

Name: “Xiao Pengke” (Little Punk)
Native of: Jiangxi
Age: 22
Profession: Rock star, vocalist of Boys Climbing Ropes

CNNGo: Do you think International Women's Day is important to Chinese women?

Symbolically, yes. But it mattered to me more when I was in school, when we got half days off. Back then we were filled with gratitude to every woman in China!

CNNGo: Are Chinese women seen as equal to men in China?

How can you measure something like equality? You really can’t. But I have a theory that the more people get along in one place, the more equal the people are. So I’d say men and women are pretty equal in Shanghai.

CNNGo: How has the social status of Chinese women changed from your grandmother’s to your mother’s generation and to yours?

I’m certain that the women of my parents and my grandparents’ generations were happier than mine. Many things were arranged for them, but now, every woman has to make her own choices and find her own way in the world.

CNNGo: Who wears the pants in Chinese relationships?

The person who is less attached of course! It doesn't have anything to do with gender.

CNNGo: What do you plan to do on International Women's Day?

Work.

Name: Kiki Qi
Native of: Shanghai
Age: 27
Profession: Waitress at Issimo

CNNGo: Do you think International Women's Day is important to Chinese women?

Yes it is very important. I remember, when I was a kid, my mom’s danwei [work unit] would give her a day off and a present just for her, even though, at that time, nobody had much to share. That never happened during Chinese New Year or other holidays.

CNNGo: Are Chinese women seen as equal to men in this society?

I can’t say so for all women, but for me personally, I never look down at myself in comparison to men. I think it is because my parents didn’t try to raise me to fit in with other girls, they just taught me practical skills and how to be an honest person.

CNNGo: Who wears the pants in Chinese relationships?

In Shanghai, it’s definitely the women. I got feedback from some male colleagues who come from other parts of China, and it seems that their girlfriends will buy shoes or gifts for them. But that would never happened in Shanghai. No way, men only give presents here.

CNNGo: How has the social status of Chinese women changed from your grandmother’s to your mother’s generation and to yours?

My grandma was very old-fashioned. She raised four children, had no job and was committed to spending the rest of her life with my grandpa no matter what. With my mom, when she saw my dad do something wrong, she would never say anything in front of the family so he could save face. But I’d never let a man keep me quiet like that!

CNNGo: What do you plan to do on International Women's Day?

First of all, I’ll call one of my guy friends, mention that it is International Women’s Day and drop a hint that I deserve something!

Name: Yang Jingyi
Native of: Shanghai, China
Age: 52
Profession: Elementary school teacher

CNNGo: Do you think International Women's Day is important to Chinese women?

Yes, of course.

CNNGo: Are Chinese women seen as equal to men in China?

There’s still a difference. I feel that men can find jobs more easily. In the countryside, women are just there to support men, but in the big cities, it is closer to equal.

CNNGo: How has the social status of Chinese women changed from your grandmother’s to your mother’s generation and to yours?

You have to talk about women's status in terms of before and after the Cultural Revolution. From my grandma’s generation (pre-CR) to my mother’s generation (post-CR), women gained a lot more decision-making ability. In these modern times, females are more and more valued by society.

CNNGo: What do you plan to do on International Women's Day?

I plan to enjoy myself, watch a movie and do a little shopping around the neighborhood with my co-workers.

Name: Wang Lili
Native of: Henan
Profession: Novelist
Age: Twenties

CNNGo: Do you think International Women's Day is important to Chinese women?

No.

CNNGo: Do you think the image of Shanghainese women as dominant over their men is a good or a bad thing?

It’s not good, but at the same time, it makes Shanghai one of best places for Chinese women to live in. Shanghai is a city for women, but, as everybody knows, women in Shanghai are not really friendly.

CNNGo: How has the social status of Chinese women changed from your grandmother’s to your mother’s generation and to yours?

My grandma and my mom lived in the countryside, as I did before. But now I live in a global village. They couldn’t choose their husbands, but they got good husbands by accident. I can find a husband from anywhere in the world, but I haven’t got one so far.

CNNGo: What do you plan to do on International Women's Day?

What I’ve been doing every day: feed my stomach with good, home-cooked food, feed my eyes with green trees and plants, feed my nose with the fabulous smell of flowers in the city’s free parks, feed my ears with music, give myself a massage and request a deep sleep from the God of sleep.