Policy Recommendations to narrow gender inequality

“Gender Equality in China's Economic Transformation” was published October 2014 and was the collaborative efforts of UN Women, UN Systems in China and experts from Peking University and National Women’s University. It covers gender issues in the labor market during China’s economic transformation and the causes of gender disparity and inequality in three selected areas: employment opportunities, income and unpaid labor.

The report addresses the need for change saying, “Gender inequality would influence the views and capacities of the next generation thus dampening human capital in the society in the long run”, and proposed the following recommendations:

• Equality and justice shall be considered an important goal of the global agenda, as well as China’s economic and social development.

In the past three decades of reform, economic prosperity, market development and national wealth have brought people development opportunities and improved life, but they have widened the wealth gap and gender disparity. In addition, gender inequality is compounded by poverty, social class, an urban-rural divide, ethnicity, disability, marital status, age, sexual orientation, and social identity, making women all the more disadvantaged in various disadvantaged groups. China should prioritize the reduction of the wealth gap and the realization of social justice as the first and foremost goal in sustainable development and pursue substantive equality instead of formal equality or protective gender equality, so that all members of the society, including both men and women, can equally participate in social development.

• Interventions in the labor market shall be enhanced to eliminate gender discrimination in employment and occupation.

The government should mainstream gender equality into the policymaking of China’s macro-economic and social development. It needs to analyze the impact of current economic and social policies, plans and programs on both genders, on different social groups, and on economic and social development. In addition, the government should evaluate the gender equality and justice assessments in its future plans of economic restructuring, income distribution reform and urbanization design, in order to eliminate all types of discrimination. Substantive equality and social justice shall be fully integrated into China’s “five in one” socialist development framework (economic, political, cultural, social and ecological development). Gender mainstreaming mechanisms shall be put in place to address deep-rooted structural and institutional issues of inequality and injustice, so as to truly implement the fundamental state policy of gender equality.

• The principle of equal pay for work of equal value shall be insisted.

First, employment and occupational discrimination shall be clearly defined, including direct discrimination and indirect discrimination, so as to offer equal employment opportunities to all workers. Second, policies to fight against employment and occupational discrimination shall be formulated to regulate the Chinese labor market in order to establish and improve the employment system, promote employment environment, and to encourage corporations to take their social responsibilities. Multiple approaches including administrative, legal, and social measures shall be adopted with operational implementation and monitoring mechanisms to strengthen regulation and intervention on employment and occupational discrimination. Third, skill training and occupational guidance shall be strengthened and occupational segregation shall be eradicated in order to break the glass ceiling and give women equal opportunities for career development.

• The reform of China’s income distribution system shall be accelerated.

First, according to the 46th provision of China’s Labor Law, wages should be work-based, and equal pay shall be made for equal work. Equal remuneration for equal work shall be applied to workers of different social identities and employments. Second, the government should give a detailed definition and standard for “work of equal value,” establish scientific and non-biased performance evaluation mechanisms, and gradually achieve equal pay for work of equal values. Taken together, these processes aim to end the underestimation of 34 women’s labor value in low-income industries clustered with female workers, break the occupational segregation in the labor market, and narrow the gender gap in payment. Third, to achieve social justice and equality of outcome, gender disparity and the wealth gap shall be reduced through tax, social security, social welfare and public services.

• The value of unpaid work shall be recognized and family care services shall be integrated into the public service system.

First, the provision of family service and family welfare shall be integrated into the national public service system. The government should focus on the development of the family service industry so as to introduce family care services into social welfare. Second, human-centered family policies rather than family planning policies shall be developed to help male and female workers with family responsibilities to balance their work and family. Third, men and women shall be encouraged to equally share family and social responsibilities through policies such as paternity leave and parental leave. Fourth, the value of unpaid work shall be recognized by providing corresponding social security benefits and granting rights to family property in accordance with the value of unpaid work, such as maternity coverage.

• The reform of the political system shall be strengthened to promote women’s participation in administration and policymaking.

The growth of the gross domestic product does not automatically lead to gender equality. Rather, unequal social norms are not only acquired in the process of individual socialization, but often reinforced by market signals, along with formal or informal institutions. The low level of women’s political engagement further consolidates this misconception. Given that challenges to the existing systems and social norms can help promote gender equality, and that the collective initiatives of women can shape institutional, market and social norms, it is extremely important to increase women’s engagement in policymaking, to improve the quality of their engagement, and to make democratic decision-making more scientific and more representative.

• Gender equality and human rights education shall be included in China’s cultural development.

After the founding of the PRC, gender equality became the mainstream ideology. The improvement in gender equality that resulted from legal and other policies used to attract world attention. However, after market-oriented economic reform, various market failures, institutional barriers, social norms, and diversified culture have shaken and confused people’s conception about the equality of men and women. Because China does not have a long history of human rights culture, there appears to be a collective unawareness of core human rights principles including “equality”, or “nondiscrimination”, and “government obligation and responsibility”. Therefore, the government should incorporate gender equality and social justice into China’s mainstream cultural development and make them an important component of China’s socialist core values so that every Chinese would obey them in their minds and behaviors.