Over 80 percent of the women, aged between 20 to 39, questioned by the Huakun Female Survey Center think middle-aged women bear the highest pressure as they have to take care of their parents, husbands and children after returning home from work.

Nearly one third said females face more pressures than their male partners.

The pressures placed on women vary from economic burdens and conflicts between their job and family life to problems in their marriage, children's education and health.

Over 59 percent of the respondents said they deal with the pressure with a positive attitude, and think it makes them mature and have a strong sense of responsibility.

Many Chinese women said the pressure can only be solved by oneself and not by others. Because it is impossible for one to escape from it, one must meet pressure square on.

The majority of the women release the pressure by sharing their agony with friends or family members. Others choose shopping or physical exercise as the best way to dispel the annoyance. Other choices include visiting psychoanalysts, quarreling or remaining silent.

(People's Daily March 8, 2003)