Women in China's biggest metropolis Shanghai enjoy better gender parity than any other Chinese city which is attributed to its exposure to the western culture, a new study said.
A report from the Marriage and Family Studies Association found that more than 90 per cent of married women in the city are satisfied with their roles in the family, largely because they have supportive husbands.
"Our city's culture has been influenced by the West, which means gender parity is better here than elsewhere in China," Li Hanlin, an association official, told state-run Shanghai Daily.
She said there are more "nuan nan", or considerate husbands, in Shanghai than elsewhere in China.
"They respect their wives' choices, play a responsible role in the family and even do some housework," Li said.
"We find that families in Shanghai are often democratic, and the status of women in society is rising."
This report surveyed 509 married women, mostly aged between 22 and 60.
The survey finding of better status for women due to western culture is significant as the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) which came to power since 1949 laying emphasis on women's rights in traditionally male dominated society.
With over 21 million population, Shanghai one of China's oldest and largest port cities is known as the the Paris of the East, the New York of the West for its considerable exposure to a mix of western cultures.
The city boosts of large expat settlers including Jews.
The survey found that husbands mainly handle a family's "hardware management," such as purchase of furniture and appliances, home-buying and interior decoration. Wives handle the money and other "software management" matters.
"I manage most of the household affairs, such as deciding what to have for meals, what my husband and son wear, and other trivial matters," Ni Shiping, 58, said.
Ni's philosophy of family life is simple for harmony, a husband needs to share some responsibilities, while a wife is best equipped to look at the larger picture.
