4 fierce ladies talk what it's really like to be a woman in BJ

Humans of China talks to Beijing's next generation of women

'Women hold up the half the sky', Mao famously proclaimed over half a century ago. But is gender equality really a reality for Chinese women? This International Women's Day, we hear from four young Beijing women about what it's like to be a woman living in China in 2019.

Cameron Hack is a Beijing-based British photographer behind the Humans of China project, 'exploring China one person at a time'. Check out the WeChat account (ID: Humans-of-China) for more extraordinary stories from seemingly ordinary people.

Clothing store owner, 24

Women in 2019 should be able to have their own choice about who they marry

What was it like growing up as a woman?

My mum has three children. I’m 24 years old, but 24 years ago people still really wanted to give birth to boys. My mum gave birth to my older sister, then she wanted a boy so she got pregnant again and gave birth to me, but she still wanted a boy so got pregnant for a final time and then gave birth to my little brother.  

I've never felt that much love from my mum, and even now we're still not close. She always treated my brother differently. I felt as though she cared about him more and would always give him more than me. These days though, I also feel as though my parents are quite proud of what I've achieved at such a young age. I own two shops selling women’s clothes, I am preparing to buy a house, am learning to drive, and at the same time, I can also travel to many different cities in China and explore. It was very different for my mother when she was younger, and I know that she never had any of the opportunities that I've had, and still have. My mother didn’t even have the chance to study when she was younger.

Did you face any career challenges?

I think I was seen as a little stupid and naïve when I was younger. The ladies I knew that had set out on the same business path were all much older and had started at a much later age. I think if a man was as young and confident starting something new, he would have been supported and encouraged, but I don’t think it’s the same for women. I worked hard to save money, then took out a bank loan and opened up my old shop which was very successful – and still is, to this day.

What's it like living in Beijing as a woman?

I can see a huge difference between women in Beijing and my hometown [Jiangxi]. Women here seem to have more freedom and independence. They're not as controlled by their parents. I haven't heard of things like arranged marriages at the age of 21 in Beijing, but where I'm from that's still common. Women in 2019 should be able to have their own choice about who they marry – it shouldn’t be decided by their parents. That's Chinese culture though, and it could take a long time to change the minds of traditional people.

Like myself, it’s good to see other independent women around me with their own ideas and thoughts. Women can do just about anything men can do, nowadays.

Former volunteer, 24

[My grandmother]'s life when she was young could not be any more different to mine

What's it like being a woman in China now?

As a young lady in 2019, I feel like I have many opportunities to express myself. Not only in what I say but also in how I present myself – through the clothes I wear, the way I paint my nails or the colour of my hair. I’m not sure where I developed this desire to do so, because my mum is quite a traditional lady and in some ways very different to myself, but she respects me and my choices. I am lucky to have such understanding parents even if it takes them some time to come round and agree with the choices I make. Both men and women, nowadays, have many more opportunities than our parents once had and I make sure I grab every new challenge and opportunity I can.

I am 24 years old, so still quite young. Although I have seen changes within my lifetime, the biggest changes are to be heard from my grandma, who is nearly 100 years old. She married at a young age, raised seven children and has always been, and still is, very family-oriented. Family has always meant the world to her and she gave up the things she wanted to do for her family. She never had the chance to study, but now girls do thanks to the ‘women hold up half the sky’ movement, which was fantastic. Her life when she was young could not be any more different to mine.

What are your hopes for the future?

I am now looking for a new job. There should be equal opportunities for both men and women to be able to get and do the same job, but that's definitely not always the case. There's still a lot of pressure from parents for women to get married and have children, and having children sometimes puts employers off from hiring women. On the other hand, men have pressure to ensure they get a good job, earn good money, buy a house and a car – but that’s not always possible.

If I'm happy then I think my parents are happy.

Blogger and traveller, 32

Getting married and having children is a choice, not a requirement

What's it like being a woman in Beijing?

I'm a Beijing local – I grew up and have lived here all my life. I've seen great positive changes within the city, and nowadays, many people who live and work here are more open-minded. They not only understand but also accept that most women are strong and independent. Those who have yet to realise are normally too busy to judge you anyway. 

In big cities like Beijing, women have started to realise that getting married and having children is a choice, not a requirement. Women no longer need to depend on men to make money or to buy houses and cars – they can make their own money. 

Is there anything you'd like to see change in the future?

I would love to see, not only for women but also men, more gender-neutral toilets. At times I've had to wait for a long time just to quickly use the bathroom, and in the end, have simply given up and gone to the men’s bathroom.

What has been one of your greatest challenges?

A little while back, I became afraid I didn't have the power to choose the life I wanted. I resigned from my job and spent the next three months travelling to Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet and many other places. After I came back, I decided I wanted to travel somewhere further afield, so I bought a plane ticket and headed to West Africa. 

In the first few days, I was visiting Sierra Leone. The Ebola virus had just begun to spread, causing devastation to people's lives throughout the country. After returning to China, I wrote my second book titled The Whole World Gives Me Courage. I organised events to sell the books and photos I took from my trip, then donated the profits to Doctors Without Borders. I hope in the future more young Chinese people can open their minds and choose the life they want, not the life that they are expected to live.

English teacher, 28

I know my dad always wanted a boy

What do you like best about being a woman?

I don't think there's anything particularly amazing about being a woman. I think, in some ways, we have much more pressure placed upon us by society. And while we do have the chance to express ourselves through make-up and beautiful clothes, this can also be frowned upon at times. 

What's the hardest part about being a woman in Beijing?

I think it’s hard for women living and working in Beijing to balance both work and family time. Many young women now aren't understood. We have lots of ideas that might not be seen as the 'norm', but everyone has their own ways of thinking and their own thoughts for their life. I feel like if you struggle in Beijing it's hard to reach out for help. 

I was very close to my grandmother, closer than I am now to my parents. I know my dad always wanted a boy and was disappointed when my mum gave birth to a little girl. Girls in big cities like Beijing have become more and more independent. Before, women would give everything up for their children and families – like my mother – but I'm not willing to do that. 

Where do see the role of women in the future?

Although things are slowly changing, I think in many cases society as a whole still underestimates women. That being said, I’ve seen huge changes having been born and raised in Beijing. In the '80s and '90s, people finally started realising that women should be equal to men and were speaking out about issues of gender inequality. Although we're not quite there yet, we're getting better as time passes.

For more badass ladies doing their thing in Beijing, hit 'Read more' below. 

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