55 million Chinese women are illiterate

AFP ^ | July 19, 2006

[CubaninMiami]

BEIJING (AFP) - A total of 55 million Chinese women are illiterate, forcing them to live more disadvantaged lives than their male counterparts.

The figure was given by Zhao Shaohua, vice chairwoman of the All-China Women's Federation, while attending a conference on Asian women in Beijing, the Xinhua news agency reported...

[CubaninMiami]

I believe the U.S. taxpayer should foot the bill and help these poor women out. In fact, the Dems and Hillary should make this a part of her platform in '08.

[Texas Eagle]

The perfect Clinton jury pool.

[MD_Willington_1976]

lies, lies, everyone in the great social collective is literate... {/sarcasm

[Clintonfatigued]

For all the educational problems the United States has, there isn't even close to this much illiteracy here.

[Truthsearcher]

I'd be willing to bet that the number of men who are illiterate there are just as numerous.

[az wildkitten]

Keep 'em barefoot and pregnant. ONCE. Then work 'em to death.

[Tax-chick]

... forcing them to live more disadvantaged lives than their male counterparts

We're supposed to believe that every Chinese man can read? Puh-leeze.

[SteveMcKing]

The goal of every person on earth is NOT to become an urbanite, PhD, limo-riding, university intellect.

But since all studies are conducted by such people, they just assume that everyone wants to become like them someday. Those poor Chinese women don't know what they're missing at operas and cocktail parties....

[TheGeezer]

Mao was a sexist who was indifferent to the welfare of the people. His government was selfish and oppressive.

This is not news, except to liberals who adore scientific socialism. They will deny it is news and claim it is all lies.

[COUNTrecount]

For all the educational problems the United States has, there isn't even close to this much illiteracy here.

But there is an equal amount of stupidity.

[oyez]

The PRC is a classless society, alright.

[Flash Bazbeaux]

My mother-in-law, who is Chinese, but not from China, is illiterate. I learned this when I asked my wife to write out instructions for how to make a connection in Tapei for my mother-in-law and two of her friends who were returing to SE Asia on an airplane. My wife told me it would do no good, because none of them could read in any language. It absolutely limits your horizons, and not in the jocular way you suggest.

For example, not only is my mother-in-law incapable of reading instructions, she has no idea of the concept of learning how to do something by reading the instructions. They only things she knows how to do are things other people have shown her how to do. She is very uncomfortable when away from familiar surroundings, and is reluctant to try new things.

[tortoise]

In all fairness, some communist regimes did have competent universal education schemes -- Russia and Viet Nam come to mind -- but they had a tendency to deteriorate with the economies. As with most things, communist regimes tend to reflect the character of the people that run them.

[ninonitti]

We're supposed to believe that every Chinese man can read? Puh-leeze

Has anyone here ever tried to read a chinese menu? That's one tough assignment.....tho I usually get "Number 5"

What's next 100 million can't drink soup with chopsticks?

[Bars4Bill]

vice chairwoman

The correct word is "chair."

55 million Chinese women who don't read the New York Times can't be all that bad.

[joem15]

What's wrong with that? If there are 500,000,000 women in China, (assuming that 1/2 of 1,000,000,000 are female) then only 10% of the female population (55,000,000) are illiterate. That compares favorably with the illiteracy rate in the US, given that the at least 10% of the female population are foreign born and can't speak or write English and are therefore functionally illiterate. If 10% of American Girls can't read or write English that is the same ratio as Chinese Girls who cannot read or write Chinese (10%). I would say that 10% of any population is functionally illiterate.BR>

[Gorzaloon]

A total of 55 million Chinese women are illiterate, forcing them to live more disadvantaged lives than their male counterparts.

Hardly surprising. I can't read that weird stuff, either.

[old republic]

yeah, 55 million women may be illiterate, but that is what? Probably around 4% of the Chinese population which isn't bad for a developping country. (Especially given the complex nature of the Chinese writing system).

[after dark]

This is really bad. The Chinese regardless of class value education.This shows the Chinese education system is not giving the bottom layer of its society a chance to learn reading. I wish international education tests took the overall literacy of all students into account and not just the top tiers. I suspect that the U.S. educational system is under rated.Which is not to say their is not room for improvement.

[andyahoo]

Lol, let me see the evil communist China has 55 million Chinese women illiterate. Thats like 4% of their population. If added the male illiteracy rate, probably it is no more than 8%.

Now how much the largest democracy, India which supposedly have a better educational system. What are their literacy rate? Can someone help me out here?