Blog 7 - Women in China Face Rising University Entry Barriers - Caitlin Gault

 This article details the rising university requirements for women in China to attend school. Women across the nation are outraged because the Education Ministry appears to be turning a blind eye to the practice of gender discrimination and gender quotas in the universities. This practice appears to have started around 2005, “in response to the rising numbers of women getting into universities” and scoring higher than men on the gaokao (the Chinese university admissions test) (Tatlow, 2012). Universities are concurrently lowering the admissions requirements for males. It is relatively new that females are standing up against the discrimination that has been occurring – “most young women do not speak up, instead silently switching their major or university…’their parents advise them not to make trouble’” (Tatlow, 2012). Requests for information regarding these admissions practices have been made, but many universities have refused them or given vague information. In the article, Lu Pin, an employee at the Media Monitor for Women Network, is quoted saying, “’Young women today have real opportunities to study, and that they are becoming so outstanding is really to their credit, their families’ credit, and to the country’s credit…they worked so hard to get these high grades. And we cannot accept that the Education Ministry is infringing on their rights. They must respect their own laws’” (Tatlow, 2012).
            It is interesting that this rise in female university admissions has come during a time of gender biases and discrimination against women, as well as during the single-child policy in China. It seems as though females are being given (at least some) of the tools for success, since even though they have a lower birth rate per year than men, they are achieving higher admissions rates in university. I also find it interesting that the Education Ministry in China is so blatantly breaking their own laws by allowing these gender-discriminating practices to occur, and that so few people are protesting and standing up for what is right. The fact that education is being restricted to females simply because they are females is a bit appalling, especially in this day and age. I understand that China has serious gender biases, but I am curious as to why success and overcoming discrimination cannot be praised, and is instead punished by limiting bright females’ access to higher education.


Tatlow, D. (2012, October 7). Women in China Face Rising University Entry Barriers - NYTimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2012, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/08/world/asia/08iht-educlede08.html?ref=internationaleducation&_r=0