Women's social status improves in Shaanxi: survey

A survey held in Shaanxi province showed that women's social status in the province has improved, but more needs to be done for rural and poverty-stricken women.

The survey - part of the Third Chinese Women's Social Status Survey and released on June 5 - was organized by the National Bureau of Statistics and China's Women's Federation.

Similar nation-wide surveys were done in 1990 and 2000 to evaluate the development of Chinese women. 

According to Liu Lige, chairwoman of the Shaanxi provincial Women's Federation, the survey in Shaanxi started on Dec 1, 2010 and was carried by her federation and the Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of Statistics in 42 counties of districts in the province's 10 cities.

"We received 3,003 valid questionnaires from adults and 647 from teenagers between 10 and 17 years old," the chairwoman said on June 5 in a press conference held in Xi'an, capital of the province.

The data showed that 64.8 percent of the women between 18 and 64 years old said that their health was good, 7.8 percent higher than in 2000.

"We can see that the women's health and the health service levels were significantly increased, but the health care status of older rural women should be examined more closely,' Liu said.

The survey showed that 9.2 percent of the women had a leadership role at different levels, 5.4 percent higher than in 2000.

But the survey also showed that 69 percent of older rural women are not economically independent, compared with only 37.6 percent of older men that need financial support from family members.

The survey also showed progress and development in areas like women's education, economic status, social security, politics, marriage and family, lifestyle, legal rights and awareness, gender perspective and attitude. But there is still unbalanced development between urban and rural areas and between men and women.

"We will ask experts to research the rich data from the survey and we'll work hard to use the research results for social development," Liu said.