Page 62 - Chinese Woman Living and Working

FEMININITY AND AUTHORITY 49
encounter an overall negative perception of guanxi associated with the ‘crude
instrumentalism and aggressive tactics’ indicated in Yang’s study. One respondent did,
however, explain that when socialising with clients she would not drink or smoke,
especially when she was the only representative of her company and the only female
present. Participant S was the manager of the import-export division of an American
automotive parts manufacturer. She was head-hunted for her valuable local knowledge
and experience, travelled for work regularly and often found herself the only woman in
large networking gatherings. She felt uncomfortable in these situations that demanded
networking with external business contacts. She found the most appropriate behaviour
was to not engage in drinking or smoking at any stage in order to avoid any awkward or
embarrassing situations. Apart from this comment, the other women made no mention of
networking and socialising with strangers as adversely affecting how others perceived
them. In fact, as mentioned earlier, the majority of the women in the sample felt that
networking was an integral part of their daily work, and the ability to mix with a wide
variety of people was seen as a valuable skill. However, the positive comments made on
networking relate more to the participants’ immediate work context. Respondent B, a
restaurant manager, felt that being forthright and candid was an important quality in her
line of work. She also thought that it was important to show concern and consideration
for her colleagues to secure their cooperation.
Yang argues that guanxi as practiced in China is perceived in the West as a female
practice because it revolves around obligations and responsibilities, whereas typically
masculine, individualistic behaviour more closely represents the individualism of the
West. The relational nature of guanxi in China marks it as feminine, in opposition to the
West’s ‘separation and independence of the individual’ (Yang 1994:192–3). In China,
however, it is clear that guanxi is utilised by both men and women, yet there is often a
gendered difference in practice. It appears that women use guanxi in a careful and non-
threatening way, especially when operating in positions of power. In fact, in a number of
women’s magazine articles profiling female professionals in private enterprises, attention
is frequently given to their warm, friendly and caring natures.
In the light of the predictability of these types of representations as well as the qualities
identified by the interviewees, I believe that authority and femininity currently form an
uneasy alliance in the Chinese setting. As we saw with the stated importance of being
youhao, women apparently have to apply themselves to softening their authority and
appear warm and non-formidable.

The modern woman
The term ‘modern woman’ (xiandai nüren) is referred to frequently in women’s
publications. How relevant the concept of ‘modern womanhood’ is to the women who
are often the very embodiment of this modernity was examined in order to gauge the
reality of such representations. According to the sample, the characteristic that most
identified a woman as being modern was independence.
Participant B responded that independent thought and character, as well as having
one’s own career, job and life, were integral to being a modern woman. Participant C