No one understands women better than women. Which is exactly why Shang
Shaohua, a four-year CPPCC National Committee member, has decided to speak out
on behalf of the female sex.
During this year's CPPCC annual session, Shang, 55, a media professional with
more than three decades' experience, presented four proposals, most of which are
concerned with women's rights issues.
The first called for greater clarity regarding the definition of sexual
harassment as featured in the Women's Rights Protection Law.
"Most women will experience sexual harassment at some
time in their lives," Shang said. "However, the law fails to protect them
because of the vague definition of what actually constitutes the crime." 
As a result, in about half of all reported cases, the accused is acquitted
because of a lack of evidence, she said.
Another of Shang's proposals called on the government to encourage women in
rural areas to play a greater role in the construction of the new socialist
countryside. She said she wanted to see more employment opportunities created to
allow women to remain in their hometowns.
"Instead of having to move to the city to find work, female farmers should be
encouraged to stay at home where they can support the local economy and help to
look after elderly relatives and children," she said.
Shang is keen to point out that, as a woman herself, she understands the
issues that need to be addressed.
"I am more aware of the problems in women's lives. I know which issues have
been ignored and which have been compromised," she said.
Shang's voice is considered particularly valuable because of the relatively
low number of women employed in senior government positions.
"When you go to a government conference, all you see is a cloud of black
suits," said Shang, who is also deputy editor-in-chief of Woman of China, a
leading women's magazine.
"And the more senior the position is, the less likely it is to be held by a
woman."
To achieve true gender equality in management, men and women must be allowed
to compete on a level playing field, Shang said.
"At the moment, employers will only consider a woman for a management
position if she is considerably better qualified than the men with whom she is
competing."
As well as voicing her concern for women's rights issues, Shang is currently
undertaking a project to study the relationship between women and religion.
Her research began in 2003 when she first became a CPPCC member and since
then she has interviewed 50 women from five major religious groups and eight
provinces.
Shang said that in this era of social and economic change, religion can
provide women with essential psychological support.
"Women tend to be more dependent on religion than men," said Shang, who holds
no religious beliefs.
"I have found that in China, women have a good relationship with religion and
they benefit from that."
The research experience has also taught Shang to look at life differently.
"For women, the secret to a happy life is the ability to live more
independently, more freely and more naturally," she said.
Shang's research is expected to be published in book form by the end of the
year.
(China Daily 03/14/2007 page6)
