Carrying on Spirit of Conference

At the end of 1994, Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) sent me, then a young teacher, for training, organized by the ACWF, to prepare for the UN Fourth World Conference on Women. That was when I began studying the various issues related to gender equality and women's development.

When I attended the NGO Forum on Women, Beijing '95, I realized gender inequality was a common problem throughout the world. I also learned about global women's movements.

I will never forget an event that occurred during the forum. During a discussion about disarmament, a foreign reporter asked if China's growing military power might threaten the security of its neighboring countries. As the atmosphere grew tense in the meeting room, a female representative of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries replied fluently in English, 'Between the 19th century and the 20th century, when China was a semicolonial society, Chinese people became the victims of imperialist invaders ... we understand full well that an economically and politically backward nation is vulnerable to attacks. Therefore, we must build China into an economically developed country, with a strong national defense … However, China will never threaten other countries' security. If China were to threaten other nations' security, we Chinese women would stand up against it.'

In September 1996, I was admitted to the doctorate program of BFSU's School of International Relations and Diplomacy. My focus was feminist international relations. While I was writing my Ph.D. thesis, I used materials about China's peaceful development — which I got during the conference — for reference.

My first treatise, International Politics from the Perspective of Gender, was published in 2003. It was the first treatise on feminist international politics in China. In 2007, I began teaching a course on feminism and international relations at BFSU.

Over the past 20 years, I have witnessed and promoted the study of feminism in international relations. The intergenerational transmission of the conference's spirit is crucial for the promotion of the global women's movement. Youngsters from around the world should do their bit to promote the global women's movement, to achieve gender equality. 

(Women of China)