International Women’s Day: in Hong Kong, the battle to end deeply entrenched gender bias continues

From lack of access to key sectors of the new economy to a rise in unpaid work and domestic abuse during the pandemic, the biases faced by women in Hong Kong show that, even in a seemingly gender-equal society, inequality runs deep

Lisa Moore

Published: 1:30pm, 8 Mar 2022

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We are undergoing one of the most difficult periods in Hong Kong’s recent history. We’ve seen our medical system become overburdened, families separated and livelihoods destroyed.

With such challenges, commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD) may seem out of place, but many of today’s societal pressures fall harder on women and girls, while addressing them can lift us all. That has been the spirit of IWD throughout its history.

Hong Kong has all the trappings of a gender-equal society – some may even argue the scales tip in favour of women. Over half of university graduates are women. They live five years longer than men on average. There are laws in place to protect women from sex-based discrimination.

These and other developments have contributed to the notion of Hong Kong as a gender-equal city. However, there are many opposing narratives that weave a more complex truth of deeply entrenched biases that prevent women and girls from living safe, full and satisfying lives.

Although over half of university graduates are women, they are vastly under-represented in leadership and management positions, as well as in fields fuelling our digital revolution such as AI, cloud computing and other STEM-related areas.

Women do, on average, live longer than men, but forced retirement, lower wages and uncompensated household and midlife caring responsibilities make elderly women more vulnerable to poverty. Hong Kong does have laws against gender-based discrimination and violence, but there are critical gaps in protection which, compounded by social stigma, prevent victims from getting the help they need.

The pandemic has exposed many underlying gender biases in our society, including the expectation that domestic work, such as childcare and care of the elderly, should be performed by women. Photo: Bloomberg

The pandemic has exacerbated many of these issues. It has led to an increase in caregiving and household responsibilities and higher rates of domestic and online violence.

Pandemic-driven economic hardship has put some groups of women at increased risk of forced marriage, while instances of abuse against migrant domestic workers have also risen. Asylum seekers and women with disabilities are also among the groups of women at higher risk of gender-based violence.

Gender-based issues affect the trajectory and quality of women’s and girls’ lives. With this in mind, it’s critical that we use this year’s IWD to #BreaktheBias.

What does that look like? First, we must recognise the value of domestic labour. The pandemic has exposed the extent to which our city relies on unpaid care and domestic work – disproportionately done by women – to function.

Childcare, care for the elderly and all the associated responsibilities can no longer be taken for granted. It is critical that men share in responsibilities at home and champion gender equality at work.

Education that promotes gender-equal thinking and behaviour is also needed. Critical updates must be made to our sexual education curriculum. Revisions should also be made to STEM curriculums to make teaching more inclusive and ensure materials do not omit or tokenise the experiences of any gender and are free from gender stereotypes. Teachers should be provided with gender sensitivity training.

Critically, there is an urgent need to eradicate all forms of sexual violence, beginning by implementing reforms to laws related to sexual violence, as recommended by the Hong Kong Law Reform Commission.

These are significant undertakings. But there are steps we can each take right now to tackle biases.

Where do we begin? We can start by learning about key issues and discussing them in safe spaces. Recognising that individuals of all genders can support each other and take action to end gender inequality is also vital – this is particularly true for men, who occupy most of our boardrooms, c-suites and decision-making positions.

#BreaktheBias also means standing up against harassment and discrimination. This includes calling out instances of harmful gender stereotyping in the media and advertising; parenting with a gender lens; championing an inclusive work culture and spotlighting diverse role models; evenly dividing household responsibilities; and volunteering for organisations that work with vulnerable populations.

Coming together to build a gender-equal society where women and girls have access to the same tools, resources and opportunities as men and boys benefits everyone. It leads to happier families, greater innovation and safer public spaces.

During this difficult period, supporting each other – particularly our most vulnerable – is crucial. Adopting a gender lens and channelling International Women’s Day’s spirit of collective action will enable us to build an equitable future in which we can all thrive.

Lisa Moore is research & advocacy director at The Women’s Foundation, an NGO dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in Hong Kong. See: twfhk.org.