The Star Online: Survey: 77% of Chinese women can afford what they want

The Star Online: Survey: 77% of Chinese women can afford what they want

"Survey: 77% of Chinese women can afford what they want



CHINESE women have a strong say in household purchases, though it’s usually the men who foot the bill, a recent survey indicates.



Synovate, affiliated with the British group Aegis, polled almost 4,000 women in nine countries such as China, the United States and Japan last month about their attitudes towards financial matters.



In China, 314 women aged 15-64 were interviewed.



Almost nine out of 10 Chinese married women or those living with a partner claimed to have at least an equal say in big-ticket purchases such as property and cars, third behind Britain and France.



Although 74% of respondents said their partners earned more, 75% disagreed that whoever holds the money holds the power in the relationship.



Apart from having unrestricted access to their men's wallet, 77% of Chinese women said they can pretty much afford what they want without asking for money from their partners, second behind British women.



Hong Yuanyuan, a China Network Communications Group Corp staffer, said she can decide on all small purchases, and, as for big items, she “decides all the details after settling on basic principles with her husband.”



Hong’s husband Zhang Ying, who earns double what Hong does and can afford most purchases, attributes the situation to a “mutual respect” in the family relationship.



“I don’t care about details. It seems better not to be fussy about whatever she has bought,” he said.



The findings also show that half of Chinese respondents subscribe to the philosophy that “my partner’s money is my money, my money is mine.”



Larry Wu, director of Synovate China, explained: “The money earned by women is a bonus to them. It is still part of the family wealth, but Chinese women tend to keep part of that money as their own savings.”



He said the survey reflects a deeper involvement of Chinese women in family financial issues compared to just a decade ago.



And Wang Zhenyu, an expert in family issues at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the survey results are similar to those she found eight years ago, which indicated that Chinese women enjoy a high employment rate and a considerably high-degree of financial independence. – China Daily "





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