Hong Kong — Workplace discrimination in China often begins with help-wanted ads. Job recruitment websites routinely feature advertisements from prominent technology employers such as Alibaba Group, Baidu. and Tencent, for positions that are open only to men, according to a report released by Human Rights Watch on Monday. And the New York-based group said job discrimination against women took other forms: Chinese companies often have requirements on the height, weight, voice or appearance of female applicants that have nothing to do with their qualifications for the job. With the three big internet companies boasting they had "beautiful girls" or "goddesses," those ads contributed to widespread gender discrimination in the workplace, Human Rights Watch said. "Sexual objectification of women — treating women as a mere object of sexual desire — is prevalent in Chinese job advertising," the report said. Human Rights Watch analysed more than 36,000 advertisements, most of them posted sin...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.