China Asks Women To Focus On “Family Values” By Law, And What About The Men?

By Priyadarshini Malavia Updated November 04, 2022 1:10 PM

I think it is common knowledge that the pressure on women to maintain and create a family is more than on men. A man might not be judged for being a present father but a woman will be judged as a mother for the smallest mistakes. And while it has become common for women to go out into the world and work, they are still expected to pay attention to their families and be proper homemakers. And China is reinforcing these gender norms by pushing women to respect “family values” by law starting from 2023. Where are we going as a society?

A revised gender law in China urges women to respect “family values,” which is the most recent indication that women are coming under increasing pressure to take on household tasks in the second-largest economy in the world. The nation’s top legislative body enacted an amendment to the Women’s Rights and Interests Protection Law on Sunday that included a list of moral requirements for women to follow.

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The first part of the law, which explains the fundamental principles of the amended legislation, states that women should respect social morality, obey national laws, and professional ethics, and have family values. This change is being brought about as China is struggling with record-low birth rates and declining marriage rates. In a 2013 speech, President Xi Jinping stressed the need for women to be excellent spouses and mothers to ensure the healthy growth of the next generation. A feminist and lawyer living in New York named Xiaowen Liang said that China is trying to use legislation to manage and discipline women. Why is it only necessary for women to uphold family values? What sort of family values are we referencing? These concepts are quite vague.

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The new law prohibits companies from denying women promotions based on their marital status or pregnancy status. Additionally, it mandates that local governments promptly notify police of any suspected cases of woman trafficking or kidnapping. Calls for a national investigation into trafficked women and children were made earlier this year after the case of an eight-year-old mother who was held chained by the neck in a shack. Liang said that while this is “a step forward” for women in China, she is unsure about the accountability that can be expected from the authorities while citing the law while advocating for the victims.