Yang Shuting, an ethnic Miao woman, was born during the 1990s. Her hometown is Chengbu, a Miao autonomous county in Shaoyang, a city in central China's Hunan Province. Yang was severely injured in an accident in April 2011. She has been a paraplegic — confined to a wheelchair — ever since. However, Yang refuses to surrender and accept defeat. In fact, she has had a renewed confidence in life since she discovered a new world: The Internet, and e-commerce. Moreover, she has helped women — especially women in difficulties and/or from disabled people's families — create wealth. Yang believes every woman will shine, and realize her dreams, if she gives full play to her potential, and if society and her family provide enough support.
"Whatever hardships I face, I will march ahead with a grateful heart," says Yang, Chairperson of Hunan Shaoyang Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities. She was one of the 10 women, nationwide, named the "2025 Most Beautiful Women Strivers." The names of the 10 women were released in March by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the All-China Women's Federation.
Yang felt desperate after she was diagnosed with high paraplegia (below the chest), the result of injuries she suffered during an accident in 2011. "It was the Internet that helped me discover a new world," Yang recalls. In 2013, she began providing services (answering customers' questions) online via Taobao, an e-commerce platform.
In 2015, Yang established an artificial-flower-manufacturing cooperative in Chengbu. She employed disabled people and impoverished villagers.
In 2016, she established an international trade company. The company's products, including suitcases and artificial flowers, have been sold in Europe, North America, South America and the Middle East.
In 2023, Yang was elected a member of the 13th Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). As a political advisor, she has called for more support to be provided to disabled people. She has also suggested policies be made to guarantee women's employment and entrepreneurship.
Strength, from Meeting in Beijing
As a woman from China's countryside, and especially as a woman progressing in her career, regardless of her physical challenges, Yang has been greatly encouraged by the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, held in Beijing in October.
"In my opinion," Yang explains, "the equality, development and inclusiveness promoted during the meeting in Beijing, and, in particular, the concrete actions proposed by China, to accelerate the new process of women's all-round development, will lay a solid foundation for all women to strive to shine in life, and to realize their dreams."
Based on her experiences, especially those gained while running a business, Yang believes the Outline of Women's Development in China (2021-2030) and the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women ensure women in China share equitable opportunities in social progress. In addition to their roles in families — be they daughters, mothers and/or wives — women's potential and social value, as independent persons, need to be recognized and respected, Yang says.
Yang, inspired by the Beijing meeting in October, is determined to help women in her hometown pursue their dreams. During a recent interview with Women of China, Yang said she planned to offer flexible employment to women with disabilities and who stay at home to look after their families. In addition, she said she planned to participate in international programs launched with China's assistance, so she and her fellow sisters can broaden their horizons and increase their confidence in connecting their businesses with the global market.
Self-Reliance and Achievements
Yang was named both a "2025 Most Beautiful Woman Striver" and a National March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetter. She hopes to help women from her hometown lead better lives.
A stable job, with flexible working hours, is very important to disabled women and/or women who live in difficult situations. Therefore, Yang says she plans to build 10 manufacturing workshops, in Chengbu County, to help disadvantaged people, especially women, find work by producing artificial flowers, and bags and suitcases, for her company.
Women who work for Yang can complete the orders — assembling artificial flowers — in their homes. Their earnings are per unit assembled. While working at home, the women are able to take care of the elderly and/or young members of their families. Meanwhile, they are able to earn between 2,000-4,000 yuan (US $282-563) per month.
Improving the ability of women to fulfill self-development is key to the empowerment of women, Yang says. As such, she plans to work with women's federations to organize training sessions, to help women improve their manufacturing and processing skills. What's more, she regularly attends commodities fairs, during which she seeks to expand cooperation with her clients, to ensure her company continues to receive and expand orders.
"In the future, I hope to bring sisters, from my hometown, to such events, so they can have firsthand experience building a connection with the bigger market. Their self-reliance and confidence in entrepreneurship will be strengthened," Yang says.
As a CPPCC Hunan provincial committee member, and a delegate to the 13th National Congress of Women of China, Yang continuously voices her concern for women, especially for women with disabilities. She has advocated for the construction of barrier-free facilities, and for the creation of an enabling environment that fosters women's employment and entrepreneurship. Through her efforts, Yang has helped more than 60 disabled people obtain jobs. By providing online consultations, she has guided 207 disabled people, from various regions of China, in starting businesses.
Yang believes scientifc and technological innovation, which she says is evolving rapidly, will ensure a promising future for people with disabilities. Three years ago, Yang was a torchbearer during the torch relay for the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics. With assistance provided by an exoskeleton robot, Yang managed to leave her wheelchair and walk to complete her part of the relay. That remarkable experience helped her believe science and technology will bring new hope to everyone.
"No matter what kind of environment in which we live, we ought to believe women share unlimited potential and ability. What we need are concrete measures of support, warm companionship and continuous efforts. My experiences may inspire other women to embrace life's changes with courage. Now, with the help of new technologies, we can pursue our dreams, with persistence, resilience and a more optimistic attitude," Yang says. She adds she expects to march forward on the journey of rural revitalization with her fellow sisters.
Photos from Interviewee
(Women of China English Monthly December 2025)
Editor: Wang Shasha
