The Hoover History Lab and Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions hosted a talk by Dian Zhong on her recent publication, The Silent Withdrawal: China’s Declining Female Workforce Poses a National Challenge, which focuses on the decline of women’s workforce participation in China despite rising education levels.
The talk took place on Monday, March 3, 2025 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm PT in Goldman Conference Room E409, Encina Hall.
In The Silent Withdrawal, Dian Zhong reveals a striking reversal in China’s once-celebrated gender equality, as women increasingly withdraw from the workforce despite higher education levels. Highlighting the policy missteps and the unintended consequences of pro-natalist measures, alongside the transformation of feminism from state collaboration to a force of resistance, Zhong calls for bold reforms to reconcile women’s economic empowerment with demographic challenges, steering China toward a more inclusive future.
