70% of Chinese Women Enjoy Rights in Major Family Decisions

More than 70 percent of women have taken part in making major family decisions, as women's household status and family role have enhanced in China, according to the White Paper, Gender Equality and Women's Development in China, released on September 22 in Beijing.

Gender equality in marriages and families in the country has markedly improved over the past 20 years, said the report.

A latest survey focusing on Chinese women's social status revealed that it was common for members of the whole family to share in the household chores. Meanwhile, it has also become the norm for husbands and wives to share planning and responsibilities.

The White Paper points out that the shifting ideas and concepts on domestic matters are some of the main reasons behind the change.

More and more women can share family resources on an equal basis with men, with the housework weekly time gap between men and women shortened from 150 minutes 10 years ago to 74 minutes now.

In fact, China has initiated its 12th five-year plan for population development, while putting much emphasis on promoting gender equality, building family harmony and encouraging freedom and equality in marriages.

Some local regulations even contain explicit provisions on extending maternity leave for female employees and providing nursing leave and subsidies for men.

Taking north China's Shanxi Province for example, a draft labor protection regulation for female workers was unveiled earlier this year, stipulating that they would be granted additional leave or social benefits with financial support. The new women's labor right is expected to be enforced on October 1.

China aims to support husbands and wives in balancing their work and family and jointly sharing family tasks as more newly-updated rules and regulations follow in other provinces.

China has also launched its "Care for Girls Action" scheme to challenge the tradition of parents favoring male offspring, said the report.

As for the elderly, China has established and improved its system of services to make sure that all the elderly women could lead a secure and happy life in their later years. Of those, impoverished, widowed and elderly women living alone will be granted special care.

Furthermore, China stepped up its effort to improve elderly people's living conditions and quality of life, says the report.

This year, China has actively launched efforts to foster the best Chinese family traditions and rejuvenate traditional family values, through campaigns such as Looking for the Most Beautiful Family; Model Family; and The Most Harmonious Family, along with the support of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF).

(Source: news.163.com/Translated and edited by Women of China)