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)