Less Workplace Bias, Confidence in Personal Growth: Women's Survey

A new survey in Shanghai finds women reporting greater confidence in their personal development and fewer experiences of workplace discrimination, even as structural barriers tied to gender and childbirth continue to shape career prospects.

The study, jointly conducted by the Shanghai Women's Federation and East China Normal University, surveyed women aged 18 and above. It examined living conditions across employment, family life, health and self-development.

Nearly 82 percent of respondents said they feel confident in their abilities and are able to apply them effectively in both work and daily life, pointing to self-development as a central source of well-being. That sense of progress is echoed in the workplace: 84.2 percent said they had not experienced gender discrimination.

But the findings also highlight more entrenched challenges. Subtle forms of bias, including promotion constraints and career disruptions linked to childbirth, remain, particularly at pivotal stages of career advancement.

Perceptions of public services were broadly positive. About 83 percent of respondents said facilities for women, mothers and families have improved, reflecting wider gains in urban development. Still, many pointed to gaps in quality, distribution, maintenance, privacy and accessibility.

On family life, sentiment was largely stable. Seventy-five percent of respondents said they are confident in marriage, while 94 percent reported they had not experienced domestic violence.