On March 6, two days ahead of the International Women's Day, the
China Women's University found itself honored for its efforts to
promote feminism and help Chinese women at a joint commemoration
with the China International Publishing Group (CIPG). Students from
the university reflected on the deep debt of gratitude they owe
their school, which caters exclusively to women, as a call for
increased aid to women was sounded.
Qiu Hongping, hailing from a remote village in Wuping County
near Longyan in Fujian Province never entertained any real
hope of studying in a good school far from home. What would happen
next changed the girl's life.
The nearly 20-year-old junior, studying for a finance major, was
seeking a part-time job as the new term rolled around. The would-be
sales promotion girl needs a regular income to help her deal with
the burden of living expenses for the coming semester.
"
Life is not easy, but I'm happy. Because my university really helps
me a lot and life is full of hopes,"Qiu said, bearing a warm smile
at the March 6 event. Since entering the college in 2004, CWU has
helped the hard-working Qiu gain a state level scholarship for two
years, relieving her from the worry of paying tuition fees.
However, the scholarship does not cover all her needs. She has
consistently needed to earn her own keep, while supporting her
family as best as she can. "My family is indebted due to my elder
sister and my younger brother's education costs and I thus have to
pay for my own living expenses in college," she said.
Her worries are shared by her school. CWU President Zhang Lixi
revealed that Qiu's situation is not a stand-alone one and that the
university has not only assisted students in gaining scholarships
but also encouraged them to find part-time jobs. However, experts
present did feel upbeat as to the current state of women's rights
and the improvement of challenges facing young girls as they embark
upon adult life.
"
Though life is changing, people are better educated about equal
rights for both genders. Sexual inequality remains everywhere. We
help our students with their studies and to prepare for life
outside college. Furthermore, we women university teachers also
focus on raising a spirit of sexual equality among our students, to
tackle inequality in a professional manner,"said President Zhang,
adding that as a feature of the women school, students in different
majors all take on Women's Studies.
Backed by the university, Qiu found part-time jobs in sales
promotion, telemarketing, and other areas related to her financial
major. Touched by her alma mater's depth of caring and in order to
repay the school for its devotion, she undertook the publicizing of
women protection laws and regulations and has actively volunteered
for community charity drives.
The old adage "no pain, no gain"
spurred Qiu on to greater efforts and she believes these have
helped her repay herself, her family, her university and one day,
all of society.
Lying just east of the Asian Games Village in Beijing, CWU began
recruiting female students having passed the national college
entrance examination in 1995. In 2002, after a Ministry of
Education review, the university was upgraded to a general
university able to offer undergraduate bachelor degrees.
Since its inception, CWU has labored to educate talented young
women across China, and help them become an integral and
multi-talented part of China's workforce. The university prides
itself on its scientific research track record, responsible for
several remarkable accomplishments for women's affairs.
According to government statistics released in August 2005, at
the time China had 6.09 million female college students, accounting
for 45.7 percent of university students. The improvement of the
plight of female students is also being taken on by society at
large.
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Zhou Jing, March 7, 2007)
