On inspiration and gender …
I have found that personal stories concern everyone. The individual problems women encounter are direct manifestations of the overall status of women, and it is important to tell the individual stories to illuminate the bigger picture.
The stories of rural sisters changing their fates—there are so many—are the most powerful drivers for me. At a recent seminar on crisis intervention, I met four sisters-in-law, Wang Xiumei, Sun Caihong, Wang Xiaolai, and Sun Shuli, from Sanshiliuguanzi Village in Qinglong, Hebei Province.
Because of conflicts over family affairs, three of these women had attempted to end their lives. During the seminar they spoke of how participating in a women’s health support group that we set up in their village changed their lives dramatically. In the group they learned that “we can change ourselves, even though we can’t change others,” which inspired them to jointly set up a farm where they raised 5,000 chickens. While they lost more than RMB 50,000 due to an epidemic, they weren’t deterred by the failure and instead set up a new initiative, a hand-weaving workshop. Their optimistic spirit and perseverance touched me greatly.
On urbanization …
Urbanization is sweeping developing countries and China is no exception. The Chinese people have learned of the modern lifestyle of Western, developed countries, and consumerism has become in vogue, both for young citizens and the government at large. Because of this, growing the GDP became one of the primary goals of the government.
But after thirty years of this trend, problems are emerging: The environment is worsening; energy resources are depleting; the gap between the cities and the countryside, between the rich and the poor continues to widen; privilege and corruption is growing; and social issues, like insufficient support of public education, health care, and social insurance, are directly affecting the progress of urbanization and modernization. The Chinese government has recognized this and is now focusing on the construction of a harmonious society. There is an emphasis on harmony between human beings and nature, between cities and the countryside, as well as an emphasis on people-centered sustainable development. The GDP is no longer the government’s only focus. I believe this change is an important one that other developing countries can learn from.
