91% of the companies have women in senior management positions

A survey of 7,200 owners of medium-to-large, privately-held businesses from 32 countries and territories by Experian Grant Thornton found that 91% of mainland China companies have women in senior management positions, second only to the Philippines (97%) among countries surveyed.

"Despite some people’s perception about traditional sexism in Chinese society, it's positive to note that nowadays nine in 10 mainland businesses have women in senior management," says Alison Wong, Grant Thornton partner of specialist advisory services. Both Hong Kong and Taiwan trail the mainland, at 83% and 80% respectively.

But all these figures are ahead of major western nations, such as the U.S. (69%), Canada (66%) and the U.K. (64%), where gender equality is generally perceived as well established.

Almost all surveyed Asian countries have more businesses with women in senior levels than the global average of 65%. The major exception is Japan at 25%. “Obviously Japan is unique in its cultural perception about women in business,” observes Experian Global Economic Director William Thomson.

The percentage of women in senior managerial positions reveals a similar pattern among countries surveyed, with the Philippines taking first with 50% and Japan ranking lowest at 7%. The mainland ended up in sixth place (32%), Hong Kong fourth (35%) and Taiwan ninth (29%), all with more women in senior management than the global average of 24%.

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