Outcry forces closure of school over sexist motto

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A school in northeastern China whose motto was "Men Are Just Superior" has been closed by the authorities following a public backlash.

The school in the third-tier Chinese city of Fushun had taught its female students to be obedient and subordinate to men in keeping with what it said was the country's traditional values.

As news of the school's policy spread last month, citizens went online to vent their anger. Critics called it "retrogression" and the "tarnishing of real Chinese culture." They demanded the school's closure and they got it. The school was shut down by local authorities this week.

It was found to lack the appropriate certification but had reportedly taught more than 10,000 children in its six-year run.

The episode is the latest example of public outrage over patriarchal views made under the guise of traditional values.

A similar outcry erupted earlier this year when a call was made for women to save their "greatest asset" – virginity – for wedding night.

That type of approach have worked hundreds of years ago in China, when society still closely observed gender roles and hierarchy. But for the last half-century, China has been taking pride in being one of the first to let women work and assume social responsibilities.

As the saying made famous by late Chairman Mao Zedong goes, women hold up half the sky.

But still, there are people who confuse the past with the present.

Dr Jiao Lin, of Beijing Foreign Studies University, told CGTN that gender inequality still exists in Chinese society.

“In Chinese society nowadays we can hear voices such as we have achieved the gender equality and we should not do more in this issue," she said. "But this is not the truth. We have serious gender inequality issues in our society currently.”

The government has taken initiatives to ensure equality between men and women. But it’s far from enough.

Jiao says it is important for the Chinese government as well as the national women’s federation to carry out an investigation and issue regulations on what values should be promoted and what should not.

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