Role of Women in China's Development.

Byline: Farhat Asif

Over the course history, women play a central role in the peace, stability, progress and longterm development of the nations. This is universally recognized fact that those countries unable to fairly identify and unleash the potentials of the women, making half of the population demography, stay behind in their economic progress. People's Republic of China is no exception in making this a reality by putting forward women of the country at forefront by providing them ample ground at both social, political, economic and domestic levels hence contributing to the full in the progressive economic outlook of the country for the past 40 years.

Being one of the remarkable largest economy of the world, having spectacular growth rate of 10 % for the past several decades, role of Chinese women cannot be denied. Often the world overlooks the role and contributions that these young, dynamic and forward looking urban and rural Chinese middle-class women are putting in Chinese miraculous economic growth and development.

History is witnessed to the fact that these women have not always enjoyed their empowerment and freedom as that of today but similarly faced the challenges of patriarchy and inequality in historic times in the country. There was a long walk for the empowerment to the Chinese women as they are fully enjoying today.

In order to undersigned about the today's role and position of Chinese women in the development process, it is equally important to understand the circumstances and status of the women in the past.

In pre modern time the Chinese society was as patriarchal like any other developing country of the world where women were considered subordinate to men only enjoying power within the family structure but limited spaces in the outside society.

There has been a strong restriction on women's free movement with most of the dominated powerful political and economic conditions and positions occupied by men. In the 16th century there were traditions of foot binding which remained persisted till 19th century. This foot binding practice was symbolic to make the women and girls obey and limit their mobility and power hence keeping them subordinate to patriarchy.

There were several other similar practices in the past which were later abolished by the founders of the new and modern China. Similar to the great intellectuals and leaders in the twentieth century China, there was a strong desire and urge to transform the family and...