Chinese Tech Companies’ Dirty Secret | NYT - Opinion

Chinese tech companies like Alibaba are booming, but they're leaving women behind. Despite Alibaba's claim of having 47% female employees, gender discrimination is prevalent in job listings and hiring practices. The Chinese government's failure to enforce labor laws perpetuates this issue. The article calls for tech leaders to be allies, support women in the workplace, and promote gender equality.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The article discusses the gender issues in Chinese tech companies, highlighting the disparity between the progressive image they project and the reality of discrimination against women.
• 💃 A six-year-old video from Alibaba shows an adult-themed performance aimed at enticing male programmers to join the company, reflecting a broader issue of sexualization in the workplace.
• 📈 Alibaba, one of the most valuable tech companies, has outperformed Facebook on the New York Stock Exchange, yet it is not alone in its treatment of women.
• 👩‍💼 Alibaba prides itself on having 47% female employees, but this statistic hides a more complex and less favorable reality regarding gender equality within the company.
• 🚫 The central government's job listings often explicitly prefer men, with 20% of positions stating a male preference outright.
• 🎓 90% of female college graduates in China report experiencing gender discrimination during their job search, illustrating a widespread issue in the country's workforce.
• 🤝 Discrimination is easy for employers due to the fierce competition in the job market, leading to a preference for men in job postings across industries.
• 💼 Only three women have ever won gender discrimination lawsuits in China, with settlements as low as $300, indicating a need for stronger enforcement of labor laws.
• 📜 The government should respect and enforce the international agreements it has signed to ensure a more equitable workplace for all.
• 🌟 Tech company leaders like Jack Ma should be allies to women, supporting their roles not only in tech but also as leaders in gender equality initiatives.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the opinion piece about Chinese tech companies?

The main issue discussed is the gender discrimination and sexualization of women in the Chinese tech industry, specifically highlighting the case of Alibaba.

How has China's economic boom impacted women in the workforce?

China's economic boom has not benefited women equally, as they are often left behind and face gender discrimination in the job market.

What is Alibaba's position on the New York Stock Exchange?

Alibaba is one of the most valuable tech companies on the New York Stock Exchange, outperforming Facebook.

What is the percentage of women employees at Alibaba?

Alibaba claims to have 47 percent of their employees as women.

What are some of the discriminatory practices mentioned in the script?

The script mentions that 20% of central government job listings explicitly state a preference for men, and nine out of ten female college graduates reported being subjected to gender discrimination while job hunting.

How prevalent is gender discrimination in Chinese job postings?

The script indicates that across all industries, job postings in China often demand men preferred and men only.

What is the outcome of gender discrimination lawsuits in China?

The script notes that only three women have ever won gender discrimination lawsuits in China, with settlements as low as just three hundred dollars.

What does the opinion piece suggest should be done to address gender discrimination?

The piece suggests that the government should enforce its labor laws and respect international agreements, and tech company leaders like Jack Ma should support women and promote them to leadership roles not just in technology but also in gender equality.

What is the significance of the 'pole dancing workout' and 'adult eyes' mentioned in the script?

These references are used to illustrate the sexualization of women in the workplace, specifically in the context of Alibaba's recruitment videos and company culture.

What is the role of women in Alibaba according to the opinion piece?

While Alibaba presents itself as progressive by having a high percentage of women employees, the script suggests that this does not translate to equality or fair treatment within the company.

How does the opinion piece conclude?

The opinion piece concludes with a call to action for tech company leaders to be allies to women, to support their advancement in the company, and to promote gender equality.

Outlines

00:00

😅 Humorous Introduction to Alibaba's Controversial Video

The paragraph begins with a humorous and somewhat confusing introduction to a video, which seems to be an old advertisement or promotional content from Alibaba. It starts with a woman dancing, which is not related to a workout, but rather an attempt to grab attention. The speaker then transitions into discussing their personal history, mentioning a rise from a factory worker to a writer and journalist due to China's economic growth. The paragraph also touches on the issue of gender inequality in China's booming economy, with Alibaba being called out for its role in perpetuating these issues. The speaker expresses a desire for change and for Alibaba, along with other tech company leaders, to become allies in promoting gender equality.

Keywords

Alibaba

Alibaba is one of the world's largest e-commerce companies, based in China. In the video, it is highlighted as a symbol of China's booming tech industry, yet it is criticized for its treatment of female employees and the broader issue of gender discrimination within the company and the tech industry as a whole.

Gender Discrimination

Gender discrimination refers to unfair treatment or differentiation based on a person's sex. The video script discusses how prevalent this issue is in the Chinese job market, particularly within the tech sector, with women facing explicit job listing preferences for men and widespread workplace sexism.

Tech Companies

Tech companies are businesses that focus on creating and providing technological products and services. The script implies that while these companies are driving economic growth in China, they are also contributing to a culture that marginalizes and discriminates against women.

New York Stock Exchange

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is an American stock exchange and is the world's largest equities-based exchange by total market capitalization of its listed companies. Alibaba's mention alongside the NYSE underscores its global significance and financial success.

Sexualization

Sexualization in this context refers to the act of treating someone or representing them in a sexual manner, often in a demeaning or objectifying way. The video criticizes the sexualization of women in the workplace, particularly within Alibaba, as part of the broader issue of gender inequality.

Labor Laws

Labor laws are regulations that protect workers' rights and govern the relationship between workers and employers. The video calls for the enforcement of these laws to combat gender discrimination and to align with international agreements, which are often not respected in practice.

Jack Ma

Jack Ma is the founder of Alibaba Group and a prominent figure in the global tech industry. The video script calls upon leaders like Jack Ma to be allies in supporting women's rights and gender equality within their companies.

WeChat

WeChat is a Chinese multi-purpose messaging, social media, and mobile payment app developed by Tencent. The video briefly mentions WeChat to illustrate the scale and influence of Chinese tech companies, which are often associated with problematic workplace cultures.

Workplace Culture

Workplace culture refers to the environment and attitudes shared by the people within an organization. The script describes a negative workplace culture at Alibaba and other tech companies, where women are underrepresented and subjected to discriminatory practices.

Gender Equality

Gender equality is the state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of a person's sex, with the presence of policies that prevent discrimination based on a person's sex. The video advocates for gender equality in the tech industry, particularly within Chinese tech companies.

Discrimination Lawsuits

Discrimination lawsuits are legal actions taken by individuals who believe they have been unfairly treated based on their sex, race, or other protected characteristics. The video highlights the low number of successful gender discrimination lawsuits in China and the meager settlements, indicating the difficulty of achieving legal recourse for gender discrimination.

Economic Growth

Economic growth refers to an increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. The video acknowledges the economic benefits that China's reforms and opening up have brought, while also pointing out that this growth has not been inclusive of all segments of society, particularly women.

Highlights

Alibaba's online commerce platform is the largest in the world, attracting programmers with unconventional methods.

The speaker rose from being a factory worker to a writer and journalist due to China's economic boom.

Despite economic growth, women in China's tech industry face significant challenges and discrimination.

Alibaba's success is partly attributed to its high number of female employees.

Government job listings in China often explicitly prefer men for positions.

A vast majority of female college graduates in China report experiencing gender discrimination during job searches.

Gender discrimination is prevalent in the Chinese job market, with men often being the preferred candidates.

Despite labor laws, gender discrimination lawsuits in China are rare and have minimal impact.

The Chinese government needs to enforce labor laws and respect international agreements to combat gender discrimination.

Tech company leaders like Jack Ma should be allies to women, supporting them not only in tech but also in leadership roles for gender equality.

The responsibility for change in gender equality within the tech industry lies with the leaders of these companies.

Alibaba's public image as progressive is contrasted with the reality of gender discrimination in the workplace.

The article calls for an end to the sexualization of women in the workplace and the promotion of women to leadership positions.

The speaker's personal journey reflects the opportunities created by China's economic reforms but also highlights the gender disparity.

The lack of female representation in leadership and the undervaluation of women's contributions are critical issues in China's tech sector.

The article argues that the tech industry's growth should be inclusive and benefit all genders, not just men.