Fighting Gender Discrimination in the Chinese Workplace

Abstract

This Note analyzes the avenues available to Chinese women in their struggle for workplace equality. While China has enacted a number of laws that appear to afford women equal opportunity in employment, the ineffectiveness of these laws is quite apparent. There are many reasons for this, including the inherent inadequacies of many of China's statutes and of its Constitution, barriers and failures within the legal and court systems, and the traditional inferior status of women in Chinese society. However, as young Chinese citizens are becoming less dependent upon their government, they are also becoming more willing than earlier generations to challenge the inequalities and failings of the Chinese government and its legal system. This readiness of the new generation in China, coupled with the suggestions and strategies described in this Note, should serve to bring about gradual improvement for women in the Chinese workplace, and eventually in the whole of Chinese society, government, and politics.