# **Tea, Tests, and Foot-Binding**
### A Journey Through Women's Lives in Chinese History
Roujing Wu
International PhD College, Collegio Superiore
Department of Economics
University of Bologna
π **[[Continue]]****Welcome to your journey through time.**
Your choices will shape the fate of those who lived it.
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π **[[Begin]]**# **1st Destination: Song Dynasty (AD960 -- AD1279) **
The era of poetry, commerce, foot-binding, and the flourishing imperial examination system.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/KvwShxkc/Qingmingshanghetu.jpg" width="100%">
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/Y9hh0t3n/song2.png" width="100%">
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π [[Role]]# **Ambitions and Traditions**
Amnitions:
- **(text-colour:red)[Imperial Examination]:** Talented men, regardless of birth, could study Confucian classics and take exams to become government officials. This system gave hope to many and shaped China's society for centuries. (text-colour:red)[However, women cannot participate in this examination.]
Traditions:
- **(text-colour:red)[Foot Binding] :** Young girls' feet were tightly bound to create a "perfect" small shape, symbolizing beauty and statusβbut at great physical cost. It is from 10th centry to the beginning of 20th centry, influcing around several millions female's life.
π **[[Continue β Imperial Examination]]**
# **Imperial Examination in the Song Dynasty**
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/NFyqhp2j/exam.png" width="100%">
π **[[Continue β Exam Quota ]]**# **Exam Quota**
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/zv61rK2X/exam-quota.png" width="100%">
π **[[Continue β Foot Binding in Acient China ]]**# **Foot Binding in Ancient China**
Foot binding was a tradition symbolizing beauty and status for women, despite the physical pain it caused.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/gc5s3NfB/image.png" width="100%">
π **[[Continue β Suitablity Index ]]**# **Rice and Wheat Suitability Index**
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/VvDWrFPm/suitablity.png" width="100%">
Hint: Rice cultivation is almost twice as much as demanding compared to wheat cultivation
Are you ready to start?
π **[[Continue β City Choice ]]**# **Where Will You Live?**
The Song Dynasty had diverse regions, each offering a unique way of life. Where will you settle?
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/zv61rK2X/exam-quota.png" width="100%">
### **1οΈβ£ Shandong (East one) - The Land of Confucius**
A center of Confucian teachings, known for scholars, fertile farmland, and strong military presence.
π **[[Live in Shandong β ShandongStory]]**
---
### **2οΈβ£ Hunan (Middle one) - The Land of Rivers and Poets**
A region of lush mountains and rivers, famous for its poetry, agriculture, and spicy cuisine.
π **[[Live in Hunan β HunanStory]]**
# **Life in Shandong**
You are a five-year-old girl in a hardworking family in Shandong.
Your eldest brother spends his days reading Confucian books, preparing for the imperial exams. Your father watches him with pride, hoping he will bring honor to the family.
Your other brothers work in the wheat fields, their hands rough from long hours under the sun. Your mother stays home, weaving cloth and reminding you to be obedient and gracefulβjust like a proper young lady should be.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/QdhVnKwZ/shandong.png" width="100%">
One evening, your mother gently takes your feet in her hands.
*"Itβs time to bind your feet,"* she says softly.
What will you do?
π **[[Accept Foot Binding β FootBinding in Shandong]]**
π **[[Refuse Foot Binding β NoFootBinding in Shandong]]**# **Life in Hunan**
Your family lives in a small village surrounded by rice fields and rivers.
Every morning, your parents and older siblings wade into the muddy fields, planting rice under the warm sun. You love watching the ducks swim and listening to the songs of passing boatmen.
Sometimes, you try to help, carrying small baskets of rice seedlings. The air smells of wet earth, and the buzzing of insects fills the fields.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/XNkRkZfC/hunan.png" width="100%">
One evening, as the smell of cooking rice fills your home, your mother pulls you aside.
*"Itβs time to bind your feet,"* she says firmly.
Will you follow this tradition?
π **[[Accept Foot Binding β FootBinding in Hunan]]**
π **[[Refuse Foot Binding β NoFootBinding in Hunan]]**# **A Womanβs Success in Shandong**
Ten years have passed. You are now fifteen.
Your feet were bound tightly since childhood, shaping them into the small, delicate "lotus feet" that society values. Walking is painful, but your family is proudβyour tiny feet make you highly desirable for marriage.
In the competitive marriage market, you have a clear advantage. Wealthy and educated families prefer brides with small feet, believing it reflects beauty, obedience, and high status.
Because of this, you are chosen to marry a young scholar who has passed the imperial exams and become a **jΓ¬nshΓ¬**βa prestigious government official.
Through marriage, your familyβs social status rises. You now live in a grand household, dressed in fine silk, with servants attending to you. You have secured a future of comfort and respect.
But was it worth the pain?
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/Px1YGnXC/shandongmarriage.png" width="100%">
π **[[Continue β Footbinding Analysis]]**# **A Difficult Marriage in Shandong**
Ten years pass. You are now fifteen.
Unlike other girls, your feet grew naturally. You can walk without pain, but in the marriage market, this is a disadvantage. Small feet mean beauty and statusβyours are seen as unattractive.
With few options, you marry someone from a family like your own. Unlike girls with bound feet, you do not marry up. In this society, marriage is the only way for a woman to rise in status.
Your life is simple, much like your motherβs. But at least, you can walk freely.
π **[[Continue β Footbinding Analysis]]**# **A Burden in Hunan**
Ten years pass. You are now fifteen.
Your feet are small and deformed from years of binding. Walking is painful, and working in the rice fields is nearly impossible.
But in Hunan, most families survive through farming. Rice planting is hard, labor-intensive work. Without your help, your family struggles.
Here, bound feet are not a status symbolβthey are a burden.
π **[[Continue β Footbinding Analysis]]**# **Strength in Hunan**
Ten years pass. You are now fifteen.
Your feet grew naturallyβstrong and steady. Unlike other girls with bound feet, you can walk with ease and work in the rice fields alongside your family.
Farming is hard, but your strength helps. With your extra hands, the harvest improves, and life slowly gets better.
Here, in the fields of Hunan, strong feet mean survival.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/mhWT0Krg/hunanrice.png" width="100%">
π **[[Continue β Footbinding Analysis]]**
# **Trade off: Investment Before Marriage**
Marriage Benefit V.S. Labour Cost
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<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/gc5s3NfB/image.png" alt="Foot-Binding" style="width: 60%;">
<p style="text-align: center;">Benefit</p>
</div>
<div>
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/Z5KFtb59/image.png" style="width: 75%;">
<p style="text-align: center;">Cost</p>
</div>
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π **[[Marriage Market]]**
π **[[Labour Market]]** # **The Change of Marriage Market in Song Dynasty**
### **1. Traditional Marriage Matching**
**(text-colour:red)[Marriage was based on social class]**.
**Female competition was low**.
### **2. How the Imperial Exam Changed Marriage**
- (text-colour:red)[The **imperial exam allowed men to rise in status**, but women had no such opportunity]
- **Two types of high-status men**:
1. **Traditional elites**
2. **New scholar-officials (still few)** β More freedom on choosing wives β female competition increased
### **3. Foot-Binding as a Competitive Strategy**
- Women only relied on **marriage to gain status**.
- **Foot-binding became a "signal"** of virtue, chastity, and wealth, making women more desirable to elite men.
- (text-colour:red)[**Where imperial success was higher, foot-binding was more common (went up 17% for 1 SD increase in success)**], as women used it to improve their marriage prospects.
π **[[Continue β Footbinding Analysis]]**# **Labor Market: Women's Economic Role**
### **1. The Economic Cost of Foot-Binding**
- **Restricted mobility**
- **Female labor was essential**, **high economic cost**
### **2. Labor Demand & Rice Cultivation**
- **Rice farming suitability**: Female Labour Demand.
- Findings:
- **In high rice-farming areas, foot-binding rates were significantly lower (5.7% decrease in foot-binding with 1 SD increase in rice suitability)**.
- **Why?**
- Relied on **womenβs labor for survival**.
- Binding their feet would **reduce household productivity**
### **3. Class Differences: Upper vs. Lower-Class Women**
- **Upper-Class Women**:
- **Higher** foot-binding rates, **being a wife**, not labor.
- **Lower-Class Women**:
- **Less** foot-binding, **work in agriculture or handicrafts**.
- **Conclusion**:
- Not just a **cultural practice** but an **economic compromise**.
- **Economic survival outweighed beauty norms**.
π **[[Continue to Cross culture comparison β|Cross culture comparison]]**# **Similar Gender Norms in Other Cultures**
### **1. Aesthetic Standards**
- **Victorian Corsets**: Women endured pain for an hourglass figure.
- **High Heels**: Restrict movement but are considered fashionable.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/3N7wvwyY/image.png" width="100%">
### **2. Social Control**
- **Foot-binding and Female Genital Cutting (FGC)**:
- Both were used to **limit female movement** and ensure chastity.
- **Purdah (seclusion of women in some Muslim cultures)**:
- Restricts women's mobility to reinforce gender roles.
π **[[Continue to Final Conclusion β|Conclusion]]** # **Conclusion & Modern Reflections**
### **Key Findings**
β
**Where female labor was essential (e.g., rice farming regions), foot-binding rates were lower.**
β
**Where male social mobility was higher (e.g., regions with more imperial exam success), foot-binding rates were higher.**
### **Key Takeaways**
- **Not just a cultural tradition**βit was shaped by **economic incentives.**
- When women **lack access to independent economic opportunities**, societies impose **high-cost gender norms** to control them.
### **Modern Reflection**
Even today, similar pressures exist in:
- **Beauty standards**
- **Workplace expectations**
- **Social norms**
π‘ **How much of our modern gender expectations are shaped by society rather than personal choice?**
π **[[Continue to go to the 2nd destinationβ|2nd Destination]]** # **2nd Destination: 1980s in China (After Reform and Opening Up) **
The era of economic reform, rapid urbanization, the rise of private enterprises, and cultural revival.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/HsBnwJhZ/1980-1.png" width="100%">
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/ZqyqzwK2/1980-2.png" width="100%">
π [[Scene 2]]# **Your Profile in Song Dynasty**
Your Role: A 5-year-old girl
Your Goal: Live in the way you want
Your Task: Find out what drive/hinder people to practice footbinding
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/Y9WcQ4jZ/Please-create-a-game-prodile-look-like-5-years-old-girl-in-Song-dynasty-in-China-image-1.jpg" width="100%">
π [[Ambitions and Traditions]]# **2nd Destination: 1980s (After Reform and Opening Up) **
The era of economic reform, rapid urbanization, the rise of private enterprises, and cultural revival.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/SssDKY3B/1980-3.png" width="100%">
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/LXbvg6Mn/1980-4.png" width="100%">
π [[Scene 3]]# **2nd Destination: 1980s (After Reform and Opening Up) **
The era of economic reform, rapid urbanization, the rise of private enterprises, and cultural revival.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/HxRRDtnZ/1980-5.png" width="100%">
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/4NzMqVgP/1980-6.png" width="100%">
π [[Role in 1980s]]# **Your Profile in 1980s**
Your Role: a farmer living in the rural area
Your Goal: seek for a suitable job and earn more money
Your Task: find the secret to reduce the "Missing Women"
Choose your gender in 1980s:
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/3wZzqtLj/Help-me-create-a-game-image-of-a-25-year-old-Chinese-woman-working-in-the-tea-industry-in-the-1980s.jpg" width="100%">
π [[Female Role]]
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/sXMdZpcp/Help-me-create-a-gaming-image-of-a-25-year-old-Chinese-male-working-in-the-fruit-orchard-industry-in.jpg" width="100%">
π [[Male Role]]# **Hilliness in China**
Darker shades correspond to steeper regions.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/mrx0jBJF/Hillness.png" width="100%">
Which part would you like to live in
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/90GpWH1s/Wuyishan.png" width="100%">
π [[Female in South Part ]]
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/7Lfn52m3/beifang.png" width="100%">
π [[Female in North Part]]# **Hilliness in China**
Darker shades correspond to steeper regions.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/mrx0jBJF/Hillness.png" width="100%">
Which part would you like to live in
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/90GpWH1s/Wuyishan.png" width="100%">
π [[Male in South Part ]]
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/7Lfn52m3/beifang.png" width="100%">
π [[Male in North Part]]# **Production Choice**
You are living in the rural area in China.
The reform in agriculture significantly increased the prices of some cash crops, TEA and Orchard Produce.
However, due to some limitations, you can only choose to produce one of them:
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/8zhVq7hb/tea.png" width="100%">
π [[Tea in South Part (Female) ]]
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/rmt6NzFW/fruit.png" width="100%">
π [[Orchard Produce in South Part (Female)]]# **Production Choice**
You are living in the rural area in China.
The reform in agriculture significantly increased the prices of some cash crops, TEA and Orchard Produce.
However, due to some limitations, you can only choose to produce one of them:
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/8zhVq7hb/tea.png" width="100%">
π [[Tea in North Part (Female) ]]
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/rmt6NzFW/fruit.png" width="100%">
π [[Orchard Produce in North Part (Female)]]# **Production Choice**
You are living in the rural area in China.
The reform in agriculture significantly increased the prices of some cash crops, TEA and Orchard Produce.
However, due to some limitations, you can only choose to produce one of them:
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/8zhVq7hb/tea.png" width="100%">
π [[Tea in South Part (Male) ]]
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/rmt6NzFW/fruit.png" width="100%">
π [[Orchard Produce in South Part (Male)]]# **Production Choice**
You are living in the rural area in China.
The reform in agriculture significantly increased the prices of some cash crops, TEA and Orchard Produce.
However, due to some limitations, you can only choose to produce one of them:
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/8zhVq7hb/tea.png" width="100%">
π [[Tea in North Part (Male) ]]
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/rmt6NzFW/fruit.png" width="100%">
π [[Orchard Produce in North Part (Male)]]# **Result**
Congratulations! Your income has increased dramatically!
GuessοΌwhat else you get?
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/FKrspy2S/Help-me-generate-an-image-that-shows-the-increase-in-income-for-Chinese-women-in-the-1980s-income-fr.jpg" width="100%">
π [[Reform and Opening Up in China]]
# **Result**
You are quite tired though your income increased. It is not the ideal job for you.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/kXSZ4DTR/4thresult.png" width="100%">
π [[Reform and Opening Up in China]]# **Result**
I'm sorry, but you're losing money.
GuessοΌwhat else you get?
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/QdLqFtvw/3rdresult.png" width="100%">
π [[Reform and Opening Up in China]]# **Result**
I'm sorry, but you're not only tired, you're losing money.
GuessοΌwhat else you loose?
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/8kmGKJmB/2ndresult.png" width="100%">
π [[Reform and Opening Up in China]]# **Result**
You are quite tired though your income increased. It is not the ideal job for you.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/Fs24W2B3/5thresult.png" width="100%">
π [[Reform and Opening Up in China]]
# **Result**
I'm sorry, but you're losing money.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/h4NmsGcr/6thresult.png" width="100%">
π [[Reform and Opening Up in China]]# **Result**
I'm sorry, but you're not only tired, you're losing money.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/NMHsjBSs/7thresult.png" width="100%">
π [[Reform and Opening Up in China]]# **Result**
Congratulations! Your income has increased dramatically!
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/CKMJ0KZ8/I-create-an-image-of-a-northern-Chinese-male-farmer-in-the-1980s-collecting-fruits-from-the-orchard.jpg" width="100%">
π [[Reform and Opening Up in China]]# **Reform and Opening Up in China**
The **Reform and Opening Up** policy, initiated in **1978**, transformed Chinaβs economy and society. The reforms covered several key areas:
β
**Agricultural Reform**
β
**Industrial Reform**
β
**Foreign Trade & Investment**
β
**Market Liberalization**
In the **1980s**, China implemented major **agricultural reforms**, including:
- **Household Responsibility System** β Farmers could now contract land and make independent production decisions, greatly increasing efficiency.
- **Adjustment of Agricultural Procurement Prices** β The government raised prices for **economic crops** (such as tea and orchard products), leading to higher incomes for farmers.
These changes **improved living standards, boosted rural economies, and laid the foundation for further development**. ππΎ
π **[[Characters of Tea and Orchard Products]]**# **Characters of Tea and Orchard Products: Hillness**
Tea and orchard farming have distinct geographical and environmental requirements:
πΏ **Tea Plantations** β Tea grows best on **steep slopes** with **warm and humid** conditions, making highland areas ideal for cultivation --- South part of China.
π **Orchards** β Fruit trees thrive on **gentler slopes**, where the soil retains more moisture and nutrients --- North part of China.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/mrx0jBJF/Hillness.png" width="100%">
*Hillness Distribution in China.*
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/vH2GzBJm/tea1.png" width="100%">
*Tea planting in China.*
π **[[Gender Segregation in Tea and Orchard Farming|GenderSegregation]]**
# **Gender Segregation in Tea and Orchard Farming**
In traditional **tea farming**, **women** are the primary labor force. **Tea picking requires delicate hand movements and patience**, making it a **female-dominated** task.
In contrast, **orchard farming** is largely led by **men**, as the work involves **climbing trees, lifting heavy fruit baskets, and managing large-scale harvesting**.
πΏ **Tea Farming = Female Labor**
π **Orchard Farming = Male Labor**
With **agricultural reforms** and **increased cash crop prices**, both tea and orchard farming became more **profitable**. However, income from these crops remained **gendered** rather than **general household income**:
π° **Tea farming profits primarily benefited women.**
π° **Orchard farming profits primarily benefited men.**
These reforms **transformed rural gender roles and financial independence**, shaping new dynamics in family economies.
π **[[What about the influence?]]** # **Impact of Gendered Income on Family Decisions and Child Survival**
With the rise in **female-related income**, women gained greater **decision-making power in households**, especially **mothers in rural families**. This shift had a profound impact on **child survival rates**:
π© **Higher Female Income β Greater Decision-Making Power for Mothers**
π§ **Improved Survival Rates for Girls**
Figure: The Effect of Planting Tea and Orchards on Sex Ratios
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/2yGLTZv6/rd1.png" width="100%">
π In early **1980s rural China**, if **female income increased by <span style="color:red;">$7.70 per year</span>** (equivalent to **10% of rural household annual income**), while **male income remained unchanged**:
- **Girl survival rate(text-colour:red)[ increased] by <span style="color:red;">1.2 percentage points</span>** (OLS estimate).
- **Using instrumental variable (IV) estimation, the(text-colour:red)[ increase] was <span style="color:red;">1.1 percentage points</span>**.
However, when **male income** increased while **female income remained unchanged**:
- **Girl survival rate (text-colour:red)[decreased] by <span style="color:red;">0.5 percentage points</span>**, especially in **orchard-growing regions**, where **male income growth led to a higher male birth ratio**.
π° **Higher Female Income β Higher Survival Rates for Girls**
π **Higher Male Income β Lower Survival Rates for Girls**
The gendered income structure influenced **not just survival rates but also educational investment** in children. π
π **[[Impact of Gendered Income on Education Investment|GenderIncomeEducation]]**
# **Impact of Gendered Income on Education Investment**
The effect of **income distribution between men and women** directly shaped educational opportunities for boys and girls:
π© **Higher Female Income β Increased Education for Both Boys and Girls**
π¨ **Higher Male Income β Increased Education for Boys, Decreased Education for Girls**
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/sDfhxTdZ/rd2.png" width="100%">
π If **female income increased (tea farming)**:
- **Girls' average years of schooling increased by <span style="color:red;">0.38 years</span>**.
- **Boys' average years of schooling increased by <span style="color:red;">0.5 years</span>**.
- **On average, all childrenβs schooling increased by <span style="color:red;">0.45 years</span>**.
π If **male income increased (orchard farming)**:
- **Girls' schooling (text-colour:red)[decreased] by <span style="color:red;">0.12 years</span>**.
- **Boys' schooling showed no significant change**.
π **Higher Female Income β Gender Equality in Education**
π **Higher Male Income β Widening Gender Gap in Education**
π **[[The Impact of General Income]]** # **Impact of General Household Income Growth**
π **Key Insights:**
- **Total income β, gender income ratio unchanged β No significant impact**
- **Who earns matters more than how much**
- **Gendered income distribution β Key factor in child survival & education**
- **Agricultural reforms β Long-term impact on gender equality**
π **[[Matin Takeawys]]** # **Main Takeaways**
β
**Gendered income distribution significantly impacts:**
- **Female survival rates**
- **Childrenβs education**
β
**Enhancing women's economic status is key** to reducing the **"missing women" phenomenon**.
π **[[3rd Destination]]**# **3rd Destination: 1999-2003 in China (Deepening Market Reforms & Globalization)**
An era of **accelerated globalization, WTO accession, rapid economic growth, and technological expansion.** Urbanization surged, rural-to-urban migration increased, and China's economy became more integrated with the world.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/PqMBKfJx/2000-2.png" width="100%">
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/Xq9hGnR4/2000-1.png" width="100%">
π **[[Scene 2 during 1999-2003]]**# **3rd Destination: 1999-2003 in China (Deepening Market Reforms & Globalization)**
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/dttptcWP/2000-3.png" width="100%">
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/qMqrDKH3/2000-6.png" width="100%">
π **[[Scene 3 during 1999-2003]]**# **3rd Destination: 1999-2003 in China (Deepening Market Reforms & Globalization)**
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/BbdmCRGN/2000-5.png" width="100%">
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/QNPYsKW5/2000-4.png" width="100%">
π **[[Role during 1999-2003]]**# **Your Profile During 1999-2003**
You role: you are an **18-year-old female student preparing for the National College Entrance Exam (Gaokao)**, the most important exam in China
Your goal: enter the elite university
Your task: find reasons why there is the gender gap in access to elite university
π₯ **Will you succeed under pressure, or will the stress take its toll?**
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/5tGDqrtm/Gaokao.png" width="100%">
π **[[Project 985 in China]]**
# **Which city would you like to live in**
π **Beijing** β The capital city, and home to Chinaβs top universities.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/CxL7xTkq/Beijing.png" width="100%">
π **[[Live in Beijing|BeijingLife]]**
π **Fujian** β A coastal province with a strong economy, blending modern cities and traditional culture.
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/6pj07jf1/Fujian.png" width="100%">
π **[[Live in Fujian|FujianLife]]**
# **Beijing: Pre-Exam Submission**
πYou have to submission your application (text-colour:red)[before] taking exam
π© As female student in such high-risk and high-stake decision, you are more (text-colour:red)[risk-averse], making you are less likely to aim for elite universities under this submission time
π The lack of score certainty leads many women to **choose safer, lower-ranked universities to avoid downgrading**
**(text-colour:red)[Result: Less likely go to elite university]**
π **[[Main Take Away]]**
# **Fujian: Post-Exam Submission**
πYou have to submission your application (text-colour:red)[after] taking exam
π© As female student in such high-risk and high-stake decision, you are more (text-colour:red)[risk-averse]. Lukcily, after exam, you might get to know your performance and score, you dare to apply for the higher rank university.
π With more score certainty leads many women to **choose more elite university**
**(text-colour:red)[Result: Congrats! More likely go to elite university]**
π **[[Main Take Away]]** # **Survey on Preference**
Use this link to answer:
https://www.menti.com/alr7narwnvcb
Or scan here:
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/wBtf3PMh/survey.png" width="60%">
Link to slide: https://www.mentimeter.com/app/presentation/alkr2d964p497q89rdng5d44ownnegun/edit?source=share-modal
π **[[Do they really matter? ]]**
# **Project 985 in China**
π*Government-initiated university project*:
-(text-colour:red)[39 universities].
-(text-colour:red) [Top 3%] students are admitted to Project 985.
πΌ **Advantage in the Labour Market:**
- Many top employers **prioritize hiring graduates from 985 universities**.
- Some companies **explicitly require applicants to be from 985/211 universities**, limiting opportunities for other graduates.
- Surveys show that **985 graduates receive (text-colour:red) [higher starting salaries and better career prospects]** compared to non-985 counterparts.
π **Long-Term Impact:**
- 985 degrees **open doors to leadership positions in government, academia, and business**.
- When applying for **graduate studies abroad**, many foreign universities give preference to 985 graduates.
π **[[Gender Gap in Elite University]]**
# **Gender Gap in Elite University**
Gender Gap at the elite universities is a long-standing fact:
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/GtV7Pn2P/fact.png" width="90%">
Gender Gap still exists even though females and males get the same score:
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/tJsyCbwF/gendergap.png" width="80%">
π **[[Survey on Preference]]**# **They together cannot explain a lot on gender gap **
Though gender gap exist in these preferences, they collectively can only explain 16% gender gap in access to elite university:
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/Wp56BVsX/explain1.png" width="100%">
π **[[Goverment Initated Elite University]]**
# **Government Initated Elite University **
- Governmentβs label of elite universities (text-colour:red)[favors science & technology universities:]
34 out of 39 can be viewed STEM leading while only 20 out of 39 can be viewed as Humanity leading
- Alternative ranking: Wushulian Ranking (Unofficial one but widely recognized)
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/B66c67gx/eliteseting.png" width="100%">
π **[[Which province would you like to live in]]**
# **Main Takeaways**
π **Women are 2.2% less likely to enter 985 universities than men, even with the same Gaokao score.**
π **Project 985 universities favor STEM fields, where female representation is lower.**
β οΈ **Risk aversion leads women to choose safer, lower-ranked universities to avoid downgrading.**
π **[[Back to 2025]]**
# **A Journey Through Gender Inequality**
π **1st Stop: Footbinding in the Song Dynasty**
- A stark example of **physical oppression**, restricting womenβs mobility and reinforcing their dependence.
π° **2nd Stop: Economic Empowerment in the 1980s**
- Higher **Tea Income** led to **greater female decision-making power, better education, and improved girl's survival rates**.
- Economic independence proved to be a **tool for reducing gender inequality**.
π **3rd Stop: Gender & Elite Universities (1999-2003)**
- **Even with equal Gaokao scores, women were 2.2% less likely to enter 985 universities**.
- **Risk aversion & structural biases in elite university** limited womenβs access to top schools.
- **Policy changes (post-exam submission) helped reduce the gap**.
π **Progress Over Time**
- From **controlling womenβs bodies (footbinding)** β to **economic empowerment** β to **elite educational access**.
- **Gender inequality evolves, but so does the fighting.**
π **[[Next: Gender Equality Benefits Everyone|MenEquality]]** # **Gender Equality Benefits Everyone**
π¨ **Men also suffer from gender norms.**
- Expectations to be **breadwinners** create immense financial and emotional pressure.
- **Limited parental leave** reduces their role in family life.
- **Toxic masculinity** discourages emotional expression and mental health awareness.
π€ **A more equal society benefits all genders.**
- **Shared responsibilities** in work and family life lead to healthier relationships.
- **Breaking stereotypes** allows everyone to pursue their true interests and strengths.
π‘ **Gender equality is not a womenβs issueβitβs a societal issue.**
π **[[Next: A Global Struggle|GlobalFight]]** #π **Gender inequality is not just a Chinese issueβitβs a global challenge.**
- Women worldwide have fought for **education, economic rights, and political representation**.
- Movements like **suffrage, equal pay campaigns, and #MeToo** have sparked change across nations.
π₯ **A small spark can ignite a fire.**
- Every voice, every action, no matter how small, contributes to a greater movement.
- **Change happens when individuals stand together.**
π‘ **What role will you play in shaping the future?**
π **[[References]]** # **Happy Women's Day! π**
**Women hold up half the sky!**
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/fRJYGWZD/women.jpg" width="60%">
π **[[Communication Time]]** **"The gaze of the world may distinguish between man and woman, but tiny atoms and nuclear do not."**
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/Wpk4r3CJ/1.png" width="90%">
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/HLLL6mc5/image.png" width="90%">
# π References
1. Chen, Y., Dou, S., Li, H., & Wu, R. (2025). *Beyond the score: The gender gap in access to the elite university*. Working in Progress.
3. Fan, X., & Wu, L. (2023). *The Shaping Of A Gender Norm: Marriage, Labor, And FootβBinding In Historical China. International Economic Review, 64(4), 1819-1850*.
2. Qian, N. (2008). *Missing women and the price of tea in China: The effect of sex-specific earnings on sex imbalance*. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 123(3), 1251β1285.
π **[[End]]**
# **Back to 2025**
<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/y8H5nVjd/Help-me-create-an-image-of-time-travel-to-the-present-with-a-futuristic-and-technological-vibe-inclu.jpg" width="100%">
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π **[[Review]]**