Xi Jinping Shows His Strength By Muscling Women Away From Power | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Center for China Analysis
    • About
    • Research Pillars
    • Staff and Fellows
  • Topics
    • Prosperity
    • Security
    • Sustainability
  • Countries & Regions
    • Australia
    • Central Asia
    • East Asia
    • Oceania
    • South Asia
    • Southeast Asia
    • West Asia
  • Publications
    • All Publications
    • ASPI Notes
    • Interactives
  • Initiatives
  • Watch & Listen
    • Video
    • Podcasts
  • Events
    • Past Events
  • About
    • Mission
    • How We Work
    • Institutional Independence
    • Staff
    • Fellows and Advisors
    • Network of Experts
    • Supporters
    • News
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Schwartz Book Award
    • Join Our Email List
  • Support Us
Search
Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Center for China Analysis
    • About
    • Research Pillars
    • Staff and Fellows
  • Topics
    • Prosperity
    • Security
    • Sustainability
  • Countries & Regions
    • Australia
    • Central Asia
    • East Asia
    • Oceania
    • South Asia
    • Southeast Asia
    • West Asia
  • Publications
    • All Publications
    • ASPI Notes
    • Interactives
  • Initiatives
  • Watch & Listen
    • Video
    • Podcasts
  • Events
    • Past Events
  • About
    • Mission
    • How We Work
    • Institutional Independence
    • Staff
    • Fellows and Advisors
    • Network of Experts
    • Supporters
    • News
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Schwartz Book Award
    • Join Our Email List
  • Support Us

Xi Jinping Shows His Strength By Muscling Women Away From Power

Nikkei Asia

Li Qiang and Sun
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
November 23rd, 2022

The following is an excerpt from Asia Society Policy Institute Center For China Analysis Junior Fellow Johanna Costigan's op-ed originally published in Nikkei Asia.

China's path toward becoming a modern socialist country, as officials describe their aim, has historically been framed as incorporating gender egalitarianism.

"Genuine equality between the sexes can only be realized in the process of the socialist transformation of society as a whole," Mao Zedong wrote in 1955.

By this measure, one would expect the Chinese Communist Party to at least signal that it cares about women's representation in 2022.

But last month's 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party broke tradition by elevating 24 men and no women to the party's Politburo, omitting its usual token female for the first time in 25 years. Women took just 11 of 205 seats on the new party Central Committee.

Loyalty and utility to the top leader, above qualifications or affirmative action-style standards, are now the major determinants of officials' prospects for promotion. Party leader Xi Jinping no longer feels any obligation to gesture toward gender equality.

"I never thought the CCP really cared about women's rights, but they at least paid lip service to it, in part by putting women in select powerful positions," said Yaqiu Wang, senior researcher at U.S. campaign group Human Rights Watch. "Women's emancipation is part of the founding ideology of communism."

Read the full op-ed in Nikkei Asia.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Johanna Costigan Headshot
bio

Johanna Costigan

Junior Fellow, China Analysis
About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, D.C.
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • China Learning Initiatives
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2023 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC