====== xìngbié qíshì: 性别歧视 - Sexism, Gender Discrimination ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 性别歧视, xingbie qishi, sexism in China, gender discrimination in China, Chinese feminism, gender equality in Chinese, workplace discrimination China, misogyny, gender bias, learn Chinese vocabulary
  * **Summary:** Learn the crucial Chinese term **性别歧视 (xìngbié qíshì)**, which means "sexism" or "gender discrimination." This page provides a deep dive into its meaning, cultural context in modern China, and practical usage. From understanding its character origins to seeing how it's used to discuss workplace inequality and social issues, this is an essential guide for any learner wanting to grasp contemporary Chinese society and its challenges.
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>性别歧视</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xìngbié qíshì
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6+ / Advanced
  * **Concise Definition:** The act of treating someone unfairly or prejudicially on the basis of their gender.
  * **In a Nutshell:** 性别歧视 is the formal and direct term for sexism or gender discrimination. It's a serious word used to describe systemic issues, unfair policies, and prejudiced actions against individuals because of their gender. It covers everything from a company refusing to hire women for certain roles to societal stereotypes that limit people's potential.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **性 (xìng):** This character combines the "heart/mind" radical (忄, a variant of 心) with 生 (shēng), meaning "to be born." It points to one's innate nature, and in this context, it specifically means "sex" or "gender."
  * **别 (bié):** Originally an image of a knife separating bones, this character means "to separate," "to distinguish," or "difference."
  * **歧 (qí):** This character means "to fork" or "to diverge," like a road splitting into two paths. It implies straying from a common or equal path.
  * **视 (shì):** This character means "to look at," "to regard," or "to view."
When combined, the logic is very clear: **性别 (xìngbié)** literally means "sex-difference," or gender. **歧视 (qíshì)** means "to view divergently" or "to look at differently," which is the essence of discrimination. Therefore, **性别歧视 (xìngbié qíshì)** is literally "to view someone differently based on their gender"—a perfect translation of gender discrimination.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
The concept of 性别歧视 in China is complex, shaped by thousands of years of tradition and rapid modern changes.
Historically, Confucian ideals created a patriarchal society with concepts like **男尊女卑 (nán zūn nǚ bēi)**, meaning "men are revered, women are lowly." This established strict gender roles that persisted for centuries.
During the Mao era, the Communist Party promoted nominal gender equality with the famous slogan **“妇女能顶半边天” (fùnǚ néng dǐng bànbiāntiān)**, or "Women can hold up half the sky." This dramatically improved women's participation in the workforce.
However, deep-seated biases remain. This is where 性别歧视 diverges from the general Western concept of "sexism." In China, it often manifests in specific, culturally-rooted ways:
  * **Workplace Hurdles:** It's common for job advertisements to specify "men preferred" (男性优先) and for female applicants to be asked about their marital status and plans for children, a practice that is now illegal but still occurs.
  * **The "剩女 (shèngnǚ)" Phenomenon:** The term "leftover woman" is used to stigmatize educated, successful, and unmarried women over the age of 27. This societal pressure is a form of 性别歧视 that links a woman's value to marriage and family.
  * **Family Pressure:** The traditional preference for sons, rooted in the idea that they carry on the family line, is a classic example of **重男轻女 (zhòng nán qīng nǚ)**, a specific type of 性别歧视.
While in the West, "sexism" can refer to both systemic issues and casual remarks, 性别歧视 is generally used in Chinese to refer to more systemic, tangible, and serious forms of discrimination, especially in legal, academic, and activist contexts.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
性别歧视 is a formal and strong term. You'll encounter it most often in specific, serious contexts.
  * **In the News and Legal Settings:** Media reports on lawsuits against companies for discriminatory hiring practices will use this term frequently. It's the official, legal word for gender discrimination.
  * **On Social Media and in Feminist Discourse:** With the rise of the #MeToo movement (米兔运动) and online feminism in China, 性别歧视 has become a keyword for activists and netizens discussing social injustices, unequal treatment, and sexist portrayals in media.
  * **In Formal Complaints:** An employee filing a complaint against their company for passing them over for a promotion because of their gender would formally accuse the company of 性别歧视.
  * **In Everyday Conversation:** While less common in casual chats, it can be used to make a strong point. If a friend tells you their boss said "this project is too tough for a woman," you might respond with, “这太离谱了，是赤裸裸的性别歧视！” (Zhè tài lípǔ le, shì chìluǒluǒ de xìngbié qíshì! - "That's outrageous, it's blatant gender discrimination!").
The connotation is always negative and accusatory. It's not a light term to throw around.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 很多公司在招聘时仍然存在严重的**性别歧视**。
    * Pinyin: Hěn duō gōngsī zài zhāopìn shí réngrán cúnzài yánzhòng de **xìngbié qíshì**.
    * English: Many companies still have serious gender discrimination during their hiring process.
    * Analysis: This is a common and factual statement you might read in a news article or hear in a discussion about the job market.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 她因为**性别歧视**而失去了晋升的机会。
    * Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi **xìngbié qíshì** ér shīqùle jìnshēng de jīhuì.
    * English: She lost the opportunity for a promotion due to gender discrimination.
    * Analysis: This sentence clearly links a negative outcome (losing a promotion) directly to the cause (性别歧视).
  * **Example 3:**
    * 我们必须立法来消除一切形式的**性别歧视**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū lìfǎ lái xiāochú yīqiè xíngshì de **xìngbié qíshì**.
    * English: We must legislate to eliminate all forms of gender discrimination.
    * Analysis: This shows the term's use in a formal, political, or legal context. 立法 (lìfǎ) means "to legislate."
  * **Example 4:**
    * 仅仅因为我是女性就问我什么时候结婚，这是**性别歧视**。
    * Pinyin: Jǐnjǐn yīnwèi wǒ shì nǚxìng jiù wèn wǒ shénme shíhòu jiéhūn, zhè shì **xìngbié qíshì**.
    * English: Asking me when I plan to get married just because I'm a woman is gender discrimination.
    * Analysis: A powerful, first-person statement directly calling out a specific, common microaggression in the Chinese workplace.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 这部电影对女性角色的刻画充满了**性别歧视**的偏见。
    * Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng duì nǚxìng juésè de kèhuà chōngmǎnle **xìngbié qíshì** de piānjiàn.
    * English: The portrayal of female characters in this movie is full of sexist prejudice.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates how the term can be used in media criticism. 偏见 (piānjiàn) means "prejudice" or "bias."
  * **Example 6:**
    * 反对**性别歧视**是女权主义的核心目标之一。
    * Pinyin: Fǎnduì **xìngbié qíshì** shì nǚquán zhǔyì de héxīn mùbiāo zhī yī.
    * English: Opposing gender discrimination is one of the core goals of feminism.
    * Analysis: This sentence connects 性别歧视 to its opposing ideology, 女权主义 (nǚquán zhǔyì), or "feminism."
  * **Example 7:**
    * 他的一些笑话带有**性别歧视**的意味，让在场的女性感到不舒服。
    * Pinyin: Tā de yīxiē wánxiào dàiyǒu **xìngbié qíshì** de yìwèi, ràng zàichǎng de nǚxìng gǎndào bù shūfu.
    * English: Some of his jokes had sexist undertones, making the women present feel uncomfortable.
    * Analysis: Here, the term is used to describe more subtle behavior, not just overt policies. 带有...的意味 (dàiyǒu...de yìwèi) means "to have undertones of..."
  * **Example 8:**
    * 学校应该教育孩子们认识并拒绝**性别歧视**。
    * Pinyin: Xuéxiào yīnggāi jiàoyù háizimen rènshi bìng jùjué **xìngbié qíshì**.
    * English: Schools should educate children to recognize and reject gender discrimination.
    * Analysis: This highlights the role of education in combating the issue.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 在现代社会，任何形式的**性别歧视**都是不可接受的。
    * Pinyin: Zài xiàndài shèhuì, rènhé xíngshì de **xìngbié qíshì** dōu shì bùkě jiēshòu de.
    * English: In modern society, any form of gender discrimination is unacceptable.
    * Analysis: A strong, declarative statement of values. 不可接受的 (bùkě jiēshòu de) means "unacceptable."
  * **Example 10:**
    * 这家公司的薪酬体系透明，旨在避免**性别歧视**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de xīnchóu tǐxì tòumíng, zhǐ zài bìmiǎn **xìngbié qíshì**.
    * English: This company's salary system is transparent, aiming to avoid gender discrimination.
    * Analysis: This shows the term in a positive context, describing preventative measures against it.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Mistake 1: Using it for any kind of unfairness.**
    * 性别歧视 is **only** for discrimination based on gender/sex. If someone is discriminated against because of where they're from, the correct term is **地域歧视 (dìyù qíshì)**. If it's based on age, it's **年龄歧视 (niánlíng qíshì)**.
    * **Incorrect:** 他没得到工作，因为老板不喜欢他的口音。这是性别歧视。 (He didn't get the job because the boss didn't like his accent. This is gender discrimination.)
    * **Correct:** 他没得到工作，因为老板不喜欢他的口音。这是地域歧视。 (This is regional discrimination.)
  * **Mistake 2: Overusing it for minor or casual comments.**
    * While a sexist joke is technically a form of 性别歧视, using this formal term might sound overly dramatic in a very casual setting. For a man acting superior, it's more common and natural to say he has **大男子主义 (dà nánzǐ zhǔyì)**, or "male chauvinism," rather than accusing him of 性别歧视 directly. 性别歧视 is better reserved for describing the action or system itself, rather than just a personality trait.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[性别平等]] (xìngbié píngděng) - Gender equality. The direct antonym of 性别歧视 and the goal of feminist movements.
  * [[女权主义]] (nǚquán zhǔyì) - Feminism. The social and political movement that seeks to combat 性别歧视.
  * [[重男轻女]] (zhòng nán qīng nǚ) - "To value men and belittle women." A very specific, traditional, and common form of 性别歧视, especially within the family.
  * [[大男子主义]] (dà nánzǐ zhǔyì) - Male chauvinism. The attitude of male superiority that often leads to discriminatory behavior.
  * [[剩女]] (shèngnǚ) - "Leftover woman." A pejorative term for older, unmarried women, widely seen as a product of societal 性别歧视.
  * [[性别偏见]] (xìngbié piānjiàn) - Gender bias / Gender prejudice. The underlying beliefs and stereotypes that cause 性别歧视.
  * [[职场歧视]] (zhíchǎng qíshì) - Workplace discrimination. A broader category where 性别歧视 is one of the most common forms.
  * [[同工同酬]] (tóng gōng tóng chóu) - Equal pay for equal work. A key principle in the fight against economic 性别歧视.
  * [[歧视]] (qíshì) - Discrimination. The general term; 性别歧视 is just one type.