Wives of foreign consuls among those lauding women's equality

Wives of foreign consuls in Shanghai and local outstanding women shared their opinions about women’s status in society as part of celebrations for the upcoming International Women’s Day on Friday.

Oksana Ponomarenko, wife of Ukraine's Consul General in Shanghai, said it has become the mainstream belief that women enjoy the same opportunities as men in the workplace, but building women-friendly infrastructure is still needed.

Shen Yifei, associate professor at Fudan University’s School of Social Development and Public Policy, agreed that women are no longer limited to the home, but she pointed out that many women still chose to be there.

Shen said many women are plagued by “a sense of uncertainty.” If she returns home, her husband’s income may not be able to support the family, and if she stays in the workplace, she may have trouble finding someone to take care of her child.

“I hope the authorities can do something to reassure women that they don’t need to worry, maybe by improving social security,” she said. “Then women can feel free to choose the life they want to live.”