Women and ICT: Perspectives in China: Women and ICT: Perspectives in China Dr. Celine Shen e-Business Center, Guanghua School of Management Peking University, China June, 2005


Agenda: Agenda Introduction and Current Situation ICT Occupation for Women Inspirational and Promotional Programs What’s Next in China


Introduction: Introduction ICT market in China is huge. Female consumer’s growth rate is faster than male’s in recent years. Great opportunities as well as challenges for women's occupation in ICT Gender inequality does not take first priority to economic issues in China Women in China are undergoing a period of transformation


Current Situation: Current Situation Internet Usage: women higher growth rate than men (11.2% vs. 7% in year 2004) Growth Ratio 7.0% (Men) 11.2% (Women) (2004.1-2004.7) Source: CNNIC (China Internet Network Information Center), 8 years (one time in half a year) continued research on Chinese Internet Status


Current Situation (continued): Current Situation (continued) Characteristics of Chinese women internet users Young: 86% 15-25 years old Concentrated in developed regions,e.g Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang… Typically 87% hold In service jobs with monthly income 1500RMB


Current Situation (continued): Current Situation (continued) Different preferences on Internet and e-commerce from men women are more interested in medical health, entertainment news, life services, and networking Men are more interested in news, computer hardware and entertainment Source: Alibaba Network Lab 2004


Current Gaps: Current Gaps Information and Communication Technology Education Application Occupation And Career Research Category Age Gender Major differences between city and rural area Younger generation gets better education Major gaps existing Geographic Tier 1 cities female professionals gets higher salary Differences exists for rural vs metropolitan, tier 1 vs tier 2 cities Higher growth rate for women (CNNIC) Younger generation more involved in ICT Younger generation more involved in ICT Improving but Major differences between boys and girls


Agenda: Agenda Introduction and Current Situation ICT Occupation for Women Inspirational and Promotional Programs What’s Next in China


Higher Salary, Longer Work Hrs: Higher Salary, Longer Work Hrs Averagely 5-15% higher than other professions Foreign companies and JV 20%-60% higher than averages plus much better benefits and career trainings No significant difference in salary with men in similar position 68.52% ICT women work more than 8 hours a day 4.63% work more than 12 hrs a day: 7-11 or six-midnight Source: www.ccidnet.com, Report:Survey of Chinese women in IT, 2004


Departments of Women Work : Departments of Women Work Source: Guanghua Management School, Peking University 2004; www.ccidnet.com


Challenges for Women in ICT: Challenges for Women in ICT Sacrifice more family and personal time: less than 2hrs for IT vs 5 hrs with other fields Only 16.86% women regard family, children and personal life as their first choice of life Foreign or JV companies even more sacrifice, single women in IT 4-6 times vs. other fields Career Summit: 40-year-old 10 years ahead of men in ICT and women of other fields Source: www.ccidnet.com, Report:Survey of Chinese women in IT, 2004


Trapezium: Framework: Trapezium: Framework Source: e-Business Center, Peking University 2005


Agenda: Agenda Introduction and Current Situation ICT Occupation for Women Inspirational and Promotional Programs What’s Next


Spring Blossom Project: Spring Blossom Project 1989-now By China Children and Teenagers’ Fund Education Especially for country-girl Receive the donation from the whole society Until 2004, has collected 600 million RMB In 15 years, more than 1.5 million country-girls get helped and some of them get the chance to receive higher education


Thousands Villages Project: Thousands Villages Project From 2002 to Now By a very successful software company of Taiwan-based Bring very basic ICT skills to villages in the western rural China, e.g. HuangYangchuan Aim: in 5-10 years, set up 100 network offices in the western rural China, 1000 primary schools, train 10,000 local software workers which could be long-distance engaged via Internet Promote the local ICT education, application and create the local PC software factory Improve the local economics


Special Benefits for Women: Special Benefits for Women The encouragement from the whole society, for women to attempt new jobs especially ICT In many provinces, e.g TianJin, Jiangsu By local governments Occupation training and tax benefits Set up Women-talent database Priority of credit support Extend loan hypothecate approaches Set up encourage fund ……


Agenda: Agenda Introduction and Current Situation ICT Occupation for Women Inspirational and Promotional Programs What’s Next in China


How to Improve ICT with Women: How to Improve ICT with Women Information and Communication Technology Education Application Enterprise Development Program in Guanghua School of Management PKU In CHINA Current Background Social Environment Programs to Improve Raise awareness of current situations Break through glass ceilings: career length is 14 years Involvement formally or informally: by training, forum and networking


What’s Next in China: What’s Next in China More voice, legally or socially and networking between Sino-western or Asia Pacific organizations Training and awareness program Sponsor plans and e-learning or e-education for rural areas Appeal to All in Audience


Reference: Reference E-Business Center PKU, Chinese Enterprise e-Commerce White Book, Project Ministry of Commerce, PRC, Aug., 2003 E-Business Center PKU, ZhongGuancun Science Park Development Report 2002-2003, Project support by Administration of Zhongguancun Science Park, Aug., 2003 E-Business Center PKU, Research Paper: The Net Readiness of Chinese Large Enterprise, Dec., 2003 E-Business Center PKU, Research Paper: Online trust and e-commerce: eBay and Eachnet .Mar.,2004 CNNIC (China Internet Network Information Center), Development Report of Chinese Internet Network.1997-2005; CNNIC (China Internet Network Information Center), Report of Internet Network Hotspot in China.2003; Lin, G., Internet and Women: Survey based on OICQ, Society (In Chinese), Nov., 2003 www.ccidnet.com, Report: Survey of Chinese women in IT, 2004 Alibaba Network Lab report, 2004 National Bureau of Statistics of China, Report: 2nd Survey on Women’s Social Status May, 2001 Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Research Paper of Shanghai Women Engineers www. Cbe21.com, China Basic Education Network. www.xinhuanet.com www.women.com.cn