SOSC 200Y Gender and Society Lecture 22: Women’s advancement

L22: Women’s advancement Identity of Chinese women: –depend on either father, husband or son In Western society: –being either a nun or wife (or prostitute) Modern days: –Could choose to have a career –Could be financially independent from families –Have a say on dating and marriage –Contribute to the family income  involve in families’ decision making

L22: Feminist movements

L22: Education and schooling Education only for boys  Choice between son’s and daughter’s education  Since 1978: 9-year of compulsory and free education in HK  Approaching equality: –University admission –Increase of female population in professionals

L22: Work and Employment  The Salaries Commission of 1947: –“the remuneration of a woman officer should be approximately 80% of that of a male office doing comparable work” :1965: equal pay in the civil service (except teachers and nurses) :1971: equal pay for the nursing professions  HK Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service, 1981: –“equal eligibility for fringe benefits in the Civil Service”

L22: Marriage and procreation  HK: From the Chinese customary marriage law to the Marriage Reform Ordinance (1970) –Monogamous –Both parties have rights to hold property –Both parties could seek divorce  Sexual and Reproductive freedom –Age of consent (marriage and sexual intercourse) –The use of contraception and abortion

L22: Legal rights  The Intestate’s Estate Ordinance (1971) –Son and daughter have equal right to and share of their parent’s estate  The New Territory Land (Exemption) Ordinance (1994) –Son and daughter have equal right to and share of their parent’s land  Choose their names in passport  The right to vote

L22: Unsolved problem L Sexual harassment and family violence LLast year the Social Welfare Department recorded 3,598 cases of spouse battering. Yuen Long was at the top of its list with 133 child-abuse and 581 spouse-battering cases.  警方資料顯示，今年頭 9 個月共處理 1219 宗家暴案 件，較去年同期升 30% 。

L22: Unsolved problem L Sexist advertisements & media products E.g. 森美小儀「最想非禮女藝人」選舉 亞姐「賣肉」奏效最高 16 點

L22: Backlash of Feminist movement Women’s problems (socializations) Men’s movement Role of the state (welfare cut) Role of the market (globalization)

L22: Suggested Readings: Pearson and Leung (ed.) Women in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Oxford University Press