Domestic Sphere Critical for Women's Rights

March seems to have gradually become a month that belongs to women, thanks to International Women's Day, which every year gives us a chance to celebrate the progress made, to keep pursuing more equality, and to go on calling for change. 

There has been progress. Whatever David Cameron believes, the most powerful person in Europe is not him, but Angela Merkel. The Federal Reserve has been led by its very first female chairman, Janet Yellen, for over a year. China also sent Liu Yang, its first female astronaut, to the outer space in 2012, 49 years to the day after the first female space traveller, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, was launched.

While the world was applauding women's staggering accomplishments and successes, the US search engine Google also illuminated its front page with a doodle themed "make it happen," featuring women in different professional sectors - artists, scientists, astronauts, CEOs, judges and athletes.

Meanwhile, netizens also noticed the doodle on the same subject of Baidu, China's top search engine. It was a Barbie doll twirling in a music box, and she gradually turned from a teenager, to a bride, to a mother, with her belongings turning from lipstick, to jewelry, baby carriage and milk bottle.

This is where the divergences and fierce discussion began. The different doodles are widely considered to reflect a real gap in societal perception of women and gender equality.

Some are disappointed that Baidu's design was an example of the latest diagnosis of Chinese social problems, "straight guy cancer," which refers to men's arrogant belief that they could take care of the outside, business world and the government while women should be mere housewives.

Some are not in favor of the idea that in China, women are still expected to put their families first. Like women in Western countries, they have every right to pursue their own dreams, to achieve extraordinary things in traditionally male-dominated fields, to become one of those in the Google doodle. 

It seems that we cannot help but be wowed every time we hear stories about extraordinary women. However, the truth is that when we are so excited to cheer for their career, we show our previous doubts, and how far away we are from real equality.

Equality means we should not only praise women for their triumphs in professional sectors, but also give credit to women's contribution to the family.

Equality means not only giving them opportunities to try what they want, but also letting them have the freedom to choose what they want. 

If a woman enjoys being a mother more than anything else, and she does an excellent job in taking care of her family, why won't we also give her a round of applause?

Of course, the topic of gender parity is too large. It includes not only equal rights in employment, but also in education, healthcare, and the elimination of rape and physical attacks on women. There is still a long way to go to achieve more rights and empowerment for women. Even if we have Merkel, Yellen, and Liu, they are only a tiny part of the whole picture. When we are fighting for more opportunities for women, we should first of all value their roles equally, in whatever sphere. 

If there is a day when we don't go crazy about a woman who accomplished something, because she is a woman, and when we don't feel sorry for a woman who chooses to throw herself into family, because she likes it, then it would be fair to say equality has been achieved.

(Source: Global Times)