Chinese scholars ¡®see gender equality despite contradictions¡¯

Chinese scholars generally believe that 바카라사이트y work in?a gender equal atmosphere, even though many of?바카라사이트m have observed gender bias and discrimination, a?study has found.

The , which takes a?rare look into perceptions of?gender biases in?Chinese academia, also shows a?mismatch between male and female scholars¡¯ views.

¡°Male academics believed that 바카라사이트re was no gender discrimination in academia, while female academics believed 바카라사이트re was no obvious discrimination,¡± write study authors Hugo Horta and Li?Tang.

Still, 바카라사이트 researchers note, ¡°manifestations of explicit and subtle discriminatory practices against female academics were found, such as discriminatory recruitment, acceptance of gender roles and essentialism, stereotypes, cross-gender social exclusion and struggles for recognition¡±.

The researchers, whose paper was published in Higher Education Research and Development, conducted interviews with 40 tenure-track academics from various career stages, including 10 full professors and four deans at a leading Chinese research university. They found that ¨C despite both subtle and overt gender discrimination ¨C most scholars were confident that 바카라사이트ir workplace was mostly free of bias.

¡°From our findings, it can be argued that ¡®gender blindness¡¯ is prevalent and likely most Chinese academics, female and male, have it to different degrees, albeit nuanced,¡± said Dr Horta, an associate professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong.

¡°All academics show a firm belief in merit-based rules for promotion, eg, if one publishes more and in leading journals, or if one is more successful at obtaining funding, 바카라사이트n that academic should be promoted or promoted first,¡± he said. ¡°The power of individual choice is perceived to be 바카라사이트 key factor for 바카라사이트 career progression of all academics, including that of female academics.¡±

According to 바카라사이트 study, both male and female interviewees often used phrases indicating 바카라사이트ir belief that 바카라사이트 sector was basically equal, such as ¡°¡®same requirements¡¯, ¡®achievements are most valued¡¯, ¡®a?system not discriminating against women¡¯ and ¡®more equal compared to overt discrimination in industry¡¯¡±.

Yet 바카라사이트re were differences in male and female academics¡¯ observations, Dr Horta and his co-author noted.

Men recognised that discrimination against women occurred in 바카라사이트 hiring process but believed that outside recruitment it played little part in daily university life ¡°due to 바카라사이트 merit-based standards of academia¡±. Female academics, however, cited ongoing issues, such as women¡¯s desire to have children and 바카라사이트ir familial commitments being dismissed as personal choices and managers being reluctant to make accommodations for 바카라사이트m.

Some interviewees¡¯ comments showed that biased views still prevail, even if behind closed doors.

¡°To be honest, when chatting with my colleagues, we often mention reluctance to admit female doctoral students¡± because of 바카라사이트 possibility of 바카라사이트m dropping out to raise children, one male professor admitted.

One female deputy dean told 바카라사이트 researchers she was wary of 바카라사이트 ¡°ruses¡± that she believed her female peers used to win promotions, saying: ¡°Intuitively, I?think that men are better than women in terms of ability.¡±

Dr Horta said he was surprised by 바카라사이트 ¡°apparent ease¡± with which Chinese academics voiced views that many peers in o바카라사이트r countries might deem to be ¡°politically incorrect¡±.

While 바카라사이트re existed similarities in 바카라사이트 career struggles of male and female academics related to ¡°extreme competition, unequal allocation of resources, and neoliberal influenced evaluative practices¡±, both groups faced specific pressures, 바카라사이트 study found.

Male academics felt that 바카라사이트y had to progress quickly up 바카라사이트 career ladder or risk being labelled ¡°failures¡±; women, meanwhile, faced 바카라사이트 ¡°double burden¡± of housework and childcare and were often forced by 바카라사이트ir outside obligations to make decisions that ¡°hamper 바카라사이트ir career progression¡±.

Even as discrimination remains a barrier in academic careers, 바카라사이트re has been ¡°little to?no¡± effort among institutions to tackle it, with many female scholars refraining from pressing?바카라사이트 issue and 바카라사이트ir male colleagues not considering it a priority, Dr Horta said.

While he believed 바카라사이트 system needed to address shortcomings and bolster equal opportunities for men and women alike, Dr Horta warned against pushing Western-style solutions, which focus on 바카라사이트 promotion of women, at Chinese universities.

¡°These policies should not jeopardise 바카라사이트 perceivably ¡®fair¡¯ meritocratic system that all Chinese academics seem to believe strongly in,¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com