The quiet revolution towards upholding women’s rights in China isn’t just about slogans, but involves the hard work of families, educators and policymakers.

Every Lunar New Year, the urban professional woman — let’s call her Tracy — returns to her rural hometown, where she quickly drops her city identity for her simple rural name Cuihua, helping her family prepare the holiday meal.

Funny before-and-after pictures emphasising the contrast between sleek blazers and comfortable pyjamas have captivated Chinese social media users. But these social media memes mask a deeper question. How does “Cuihua” become “Tracy”?

Her journey involves more than a change of name; it encompasses the dramatic rise of  Chinese women’s social status driven by personal resilience, family support and a nationwide campaign.

Greater awareness of gender equality didn’t happen overnight. Overcoming deep-rooted prejudices requires more than slogans like “ women hold up half the sky”.

One of the first laws China introduced after the founding of the People’s Republic was the Marriage Law. Enacted in 1950, it opened with a commitment to “equal rights for men and women”.

In 1995, China hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women. At the conference, 189 governments adopted the  Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a milestone in global gender equality. Adhering to gender equality and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women and children have been included in the reports of the 18th, 19th and 20th Communist Party national congresses.

No longer ‘leftover’: China’s women take charge

My own defining moment came three decades ago. A well-meaning rural relative reminded me to spend less money, as my parents should save for my brother, the family’s “pillar”. The moment was seared into my memory by my father’s response. He would not tolerate anyone suggesting I was less valuable. Looking straight at me, he said, “Whatever your brother has, you have too.” This personal victory, repeated in many homes, reflects the quiet revolution of families investing equally in their daughters.

Achieving equality and empowering all women and girls is not only one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, but also a crucial benchmark for human civilisation. This is a shared global challenge, not China’s alone. To this end, China has launched programs that share skills and provide technical aid to women in African countries.

Education has been the key driver in removing barriers to women’s advancement. A recent Chinese white paper details the progress made on ensuring women’s educational rights. In 2024, China boasted a 99.9% net enrolment rate for girls in primary school. Girls comprise more than 47% of pupils in compulsory education.

Today, women are not just catching up; they are leading, making up just over half of all higher education enrolments and 54% of those in adult undergraduate programs, according to the white paper.

Behind these numbers are changemakers like Zhang Guimei, the “mom principal”. Her free high school for girls in a remote part of Yunnan province has helped more than 2000 students, many of whom were living in poverty, go to university and rewrite their futures.

This spirit of empowerment is echoed by initiatives like the “Spring Bud Project”, which raised 3.44 billion yuan (US$42.1 billion) by the end of 2024 to support the education of more than four million girls, enabling more women and girls to benefit from national progress and modernisation.

These efforts are bearing fruit. Women account for 45.8% of all scientific researchers in China. They are claiming their space in emerging fields, comprising 42.3% of certified artificial intelligence trainers in 2024. In the internet sector, women represent more than half of the entrepreneurs.

China’s progress is backed by an evolving legal system that turns the ideal of equality into a real and enforceable right. At its heart is the  Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests. A 2022 amendment guarantees state support for lifelong learning, aiming to ensure that women have ongoing opportunities for growth.

Backed by China’s constitution and other legal provisions, the law provides a framework for combatting the violation of women’s rights.

On a recent trip back to my hometown, I remembered how my father used to drive two hours each way once a month to and from my old high school — a prestigious institution in another city — to pick me up and take me home for the weekend. Later, he watched me leave for university in Beijing, where I eventually settled down, built my career and started a family – becoming a “Tracy” in my own right.

My daughter interrupted my nostalgic daydream. “Mum, can’t we just stay here forever with Grandma and Grandpa?”

I almost considered it. In the two decades since I’d left, my hometown has built libraries, museums, shopping centres and even theme parks. To my little girl, my hometown has it all.

There is a quiet truth underpinning the path towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. It has advanced thanks to the collective efforts of policymakers, educators and parents like my father.

It is about ensuring that my daughter, and every girl in the world, grows up valued and respected. It is about securing her freedom and the right to choose her own path. It is about empowering every woman — whether she’s a “Tracy” in a quiet village or a “Cuihua” in a bustling metropolis — to find the opportunity and respect she needs to take control of her life wherever she decides to call home.

Republished from South China Morning Post, 15 October 2025

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.