What’s It Like To Be A Woman Doing Business in China
March 31, 2010 by admin
Barbara Spraker, who is a faculty member in the AUS Center For Creative Change, is working with an American woman who is a 16-year resident of Beijing to convene a conversation circle there for a small group of women who are interested in talking about “What is the Role of Women in Global Leadership?” Here are the woman’s thoughts on what it’s like to be a woman doing business in China (she is the founder of a local community center).
“My husband initially wanted RED to be the dominant color in the center. He didn’t believe my suggestions that a more restful palette were valid, so he told me: ‘Find a color expert and I’ll consider his suggestions.’ So a friend hooked me up with Lauren and together we found the solution (and my husband backed off and let us do what we wanted to do).
Being a woman in business in macho Beijing, and working together with a macho Chinese husband is very difficult. It’s especially difficult because I’m probably very “macho” as well. I’ve been called “mu lao hu” on many occasions. Directly translated it means “tigress” and is not considered to be a compliment. I have, however, decided to take it as a compliment.
If I can just reign in my emotional energy I’ll be able to continue doing business in Beijing for a long time without first having an anger-induced stroke. But I must admit, that I do have a mini-implosion every time I’m talking with a Chinese official or worker about and they end the discussion with: “Lisa, don’t you worry about this. Have your husband call me and he and I will take care of it.” They’re starting to come around, but it’s literally taken about a decade of hard work and persistence to be taken seriously. And that’s exhausting.”
You are not alone. In East Africa and Central America I find the same problem. The women I spoke with in Kenya reminded me of our gender culture in the 1950s. The one difference and perhaps advantage is they are able to observe the relationships of their friends from other countries as well as the many visitors that vacation in their land.
Our conversations revolved around gaining power and attention as a well educated woman. Heavy questions, we talked about looking to the women that have made a success and name for themselves in their country and learn from them. I believe we will see women status in East Africa raise rapidly in the future.
My husband and I purchased a villa in Costa Rica about 16 years ago and it was very obvious from the beginning that all business was going to be directed between the men. Unfortunately for them, I was the one in the family that did all the financial dealings. My husband had no interest in being the go to person in this adventure. It was quite comical having my husband be the go between for the transactions that took a few years to complete (nothing in Costa Rica gets done quickly). Luckily when we were home I was able to use the computer and just sign his name.
I haven’t seen much change in the relationship between men and women in that part of the world but to be honest I probably was not in tune the last couple of time I was down.