Illustration: Lu Ting/GT

There have been numerous articles and discussions recently in regards to an increasing meritocracy in China, with women being confirmed as holding up literally half the sky for Chinese Internet start-ups.



An article by Bloomberg specifically states that "the Chinese government estimates females founded 55 percent of new Internet companies and more than a quarter of all entrepreneurs are women."



Historically, the roles of women in China have significantly advanced throughout each dynasty.



In modern times, after the formation of a Communist government, gender equality was heavily promoted. In contemporary China, particularly Shanghai, women have adapted into completely new, dominant and independent roles.



Of course, it cannot be denied that the central government can often shape reaction and debate to fit its core ideals and prescriptions.



A recent white paper outlines an initiative to promote entrepreneurship and innovation among women; thus we can presume that it will do whatever it takes to make this initiative seem effective even if it is not.



This theory is supported by those who are arguing that the "half the sky" adage, and the latest "55 percent" figure, are exaggerated.



TechinAsia, a weblog about start-ups on this side of the world, recently wrote that, earlier this year, TechBase founder Ling Zihan estimated that women have in fact only founded a mere 10 percent of Chinese new-tech ventures.



Ling's evidence may very well be flawed, or at least require further citations and evidence, yet some are now questioning how exactly the government's 55 percent figure was produced, what research was carried out and what specifically counts as women "influencing" the start-up? If there was just one female member in a team, does that count as influential?



In spite of that, it cannot be dismissed that the professional roles of women in China, and across the world, have increased over the past decade.



Bloomberg in a recent study points out that "the largest venture capital fund ever raised by a woman isn't in Silicon Valley or even the US. It's in Beijing."



This visible rise of women in the capital and technological sectors demonstrates the continuance of Mao Zedong's 1940s-era ideology, during which women fought directly alongside men in revolutionary combat.



Though Chinese women are, in many ways, still socially unequal to their male counterparts, it's good to see that Chinese women today are at least career-driven and occupied.



From a social perspective, perhaps this is a contributing factor as to why there are so many "leftover women" in China, a popular term to describe adult females who have chosen careers over marriage, embracing a new social revolution of independence, career and individual choice.



They are not in fact leftover; rather they have alternative priorities at this stage of their life, in which traditionally they should already be married with children.



This fairly recent social phenomenon goes hand in hand with China's ever-growing expat community of foreigners coming to work and live here.



Western men are often less concerned with age, job or social class when it comes to selecting a mate, whereas a Chinese man may be intimidated by a professional, educated woman who quite possibly earns more than him.



This can also lead to more "leftover" women who, having been rejected by Chinese men, turn to less-discriminating foreign men. Ironically, in the Chinese women's eyes, expat men are the true "leftovers."



With recent legislation further opening up rights for foreign students to stay for work in Shanghai and extending exclusive green card status to wealthy foreign executives in urban centers, the Chinese government is indirectly encouraging an alternative dating-and-mating resource for older, unwed or divorced Chinese women.



For the present it will certainly keep the economy stable while also stabilizing the slowing population growth.



The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Global Times.