Tea, Tests, and Foot-Binding: Gender Inequality in China’s Past and Present
On Friday, March 7th at 6:00 PM, the tenth meeting of the Think & Drink series, organized by the PhD students of the Collegio Superiore, will take place at the Serre dei Giardini Margherita.
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Date: 07 MARCH 2025 from 18:00 to 20:00
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Event location: Serra Sonora, Serre dei Giardini Margherita, Via Castiglione 134, Bologna
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Type: Think & Drink
What drives gender inequality? Is it rooted in culture, economic systems, or individual decision-making? This talk examines the origins of gender disparities in China, exploring how labour markets, cultural norms, and institutions have shaped opportunities for women throughout history and into the modern era.
We begin with foot-binding, a cultural practice tied to marriage-market competition and agricultural labour demands. Moving to rural China in the 1980s, we analyze how sex-specific income changes—such as women’s role in tea production—alter gender dynamics. Finally, we examine modern education, where systemic biases and gendered preferences contribute to women’s underrepresentation in elite universities.
This talk uncovers the cultural and economic mechanisms that sustain gender inequality and offers insights into their persistence over time.
Speaker: Dr. Roujing Wu, PhD, Department of Economic Sciences.
The meeting will be held in English.