“Women carry half the sky” is a famous quote from Mao Tsetung. The founder of the Chinese state (1893-1976) wanted to express that women and men have equal rights in the People’s Republic. Nearly half a century after Mao’s death, however, this idea has not caught on in the upper echelons of the Communist Party.
Even today, China’s political power elite is almost exclusively male. There are no women among the seven members of the powerful Politburo Standing Committee. There is only one member of the 25-member Politburo: Sun Chunlan. But the 72-year-old is likely to retire.
It is unclear whether a woman will take over in the new Politburo, which will meet for the first time this weekend after the party congress. According to the China Institute Merics in Berlin, women make up less than a third of party members. Less than eight percent of management positions are held by women.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
