Forward-looking policies are helping women continue their careers

China Daily

29th May 2025

Forward-looking policies are helping women continue their careers

By WANG XIN

Overcoming hurdles

In Xinyu, Jiangxi province, Hu Meizhen, a 47-year-old villager with movement disabilities, is now prospering on e-commerce platforms. Having been restricted in the type of work open to her, at the age of 40 Hu learned how to type and use the internet, and opened a number of online shops.

In 2019, she established a company selling handmade Shuibei mahua (fried dough twists), as an inheritor of this local intangible cultural heritage snack.

Last year, the traditional snack brought her revenue exceeding 5 million yuan.

With her disabilities, Hu said she was "trapped at home" before. Family members were too protective of her and she rarely had the chance to explore the outside world and have social interactions. Also, as a woman she received more objections and less support when it came to starting a business.

However, e-commerce platforms have given Hu and her team of workers — 90 percent of whom also have disabilities — powerful wings to fly.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202505/29/WS68379e89a310a04af22c2196_2.html