Many people laughed at her, and even her husband said she was daydreaming. But giving little heed to the stereotypes or her family's advice, in 1998 Liu Mingming applied to become chief representative of VoithPaper China, a process supplier for the paper industry.

 

She talked to the company's five directors hoping to convince them that her experience qualified her as the perfect candidate.

 

And, to the surprise of many, they agreed, and gave her the job on the spot.

 

"In 1998, we earned 5 million yuan (US$625,000) in the Chinese market, but in 2004, we reached 4 billion yuan (US$500 million)," said Liu, the only female senior manager in the multinational company headquartered in Germany.

 

There is a dichotomy of stereotypes of Chinese businesswomen. These women are usually believed to either be tough, aggressive females who've sacrificed family for career, or, they are viewed as maternal figures in the workplace who nurture staff and clientele. But according to two recent studies, both of these typecasts are inaccurate.

 

At a recent seminar held by Chief Executive China Magazine and Global Sources, sponsored by Lamex Holding Ltd in Beijing, professor Lu Feng, of Peking University, revealed that most Chinese women managers felt they could manage both family and career.

 

The findings were based on a survey of 1,113 Chinese managers from all walks of life, of whom 713 respondents were women.

 

The study found that more than half of these women didn't agree with the assumption that career and family life were incompatible, while 38 percent said they were undecided. Only 5 percent definitively said they could not balance their careers and family lives.

 

The study also found that in terms of professional ability, men and women truly are equals. The research took into consideration authority, decision-making, management skills, creativity, communication and caring for staff.

 

But one widely believed assumption did prove true, according to the research: It is more difficult for women to push into the upper tiers of management.

 

"Our research indicates that the glass ceiling still exists for women," Lu said.

 

While there were more women than men managers at the departmental level, and the gender ratio was equal at the deputy-general managerial level, most general managers in China are still men.

 

However, Lu Feng believed that the reason might lie in the different interests of each gender.

 

"We found that women are less interested in professional studies than men," Lu said.

 

In contrast to the stereotype of an elderly female manager assuming a "motherly" role in the office, the study found that women managers between ages 30 to 40 took the best care of their staff. However, those who were younger or older were more concerned about taking care of their own careers.

 

A recent study by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a consultation company, found that leadership style varied by trade sector more than by sex. The findings were based on interviews with 20,000 employees from nearly 100 companies and enterprises across China.

 

"Leaders in high technology sectors have to be creative to keep up with technological development, but good leaders in sophisticated sectors of manufacturing need to efficiently integrate their enterprises' resources," Liu Bo, the senior consultant heading the survey, said in a telephone interview.

 

It also found minimal differences between the attitudes of men and women. Women managers were 6 percent points less satisfied with their compensation and benefits and 5 percent points less satisfied than men with their immediate bosses. However, they were found to be 2 percent points more likely to feel loyalty toward their companies.

 

But, "considering the margin of error, we think there is no difference between women and men managers in terms of company commitment item," Liu said.

 

But the area where women's roles are changing the fastest is in entrepreneurship.

 

According to the China Association of Women Entrepreneurs' statistics, the number of women entrepreneurs has grown to 20 percent. Compared with men, women's enterprises were 7.8 percent more profitable, 4.3 percent more financially balanced and 12.1 percent fewer were in debt.

 

Despite insignificant leadership differences between men and women, the association found that women did a better job of managing enterprises.

 

The association's vice-president Wang Shuhua confirmed one common stereotype: Compared with men, women "don't have bad habits such as excessive smoking or drinking".

 

And Luo Huilan, a professor at China Woman's University, confirmed some more positive stereotypes. In her research on gender and managerial style, she found that women are physiologically stronger, better communicators and more insightful and perceptive when it comes to their staff.

 

The study also found that competent women managers always learn from their male counterparts.

 

"No matter what style she takes, a successful woman manager is always ambitious and works hard at her career," Luo said in a telephone interview.

 

Zhang Yaling, general manager of ARCHOS Asia, an electronics manufacturer headquartered in France, emphasized the importance of ongoing professional study and self-confidence.

 

"Whether they're men or women, only managers who are authoritative, wise, self-respecting and easygoing will succeed," Zhang said.

 

(China Daily April 25, 2007)