Discount shopping replaces awareness on Women's Day

INTERNATIONAL Women's Day has become the latest victim of commercialisation.

It was bound to happen, however, as virtually nothing escapes the tools of marketing on the mainland.

Shopping centres see the annual event, which falls tomorrow, as an opportunity to lure women shoppers with big discounts - not as a time to increase awareness of women's issues.

If it were not for the shopping centres and primary and secondary schools, where ceremonies are held and gifts are presented to female teachers, International Women's Day would pass as any other day for most Chinese women.

In the past, when most people worked for state enterprises, women would get either a whole day off or a half day on March 8. But that is no longer the case.

If a woman is lucky, she may receive a gift from her employer.