Another reason is that the law is a social law, or a synthesis of relative stipulations in other laws to address certain social issues, Xia said. She explained that judges are inclined to cite articles in laws they are already familiar with instead of searching through a new social law while handling lawsuits.

As to job discrimination against women, Xia advises women refused by an employer for a certain job to ally and sue the employer for violating the public interest, because "it's hard for an individual to find any evidence and the employer can give you other excuses instead of telling you the truth."

Major concerns

Xia brought with her three major issues to the 10th National Women's Congress. Apart from increasing job discrimination against female graduates amid the grave economic climate, Xia, who is an expert on marriage and family-related laws, observed that the divorce rate is rising steadily in rural areas.

The urbanization tide in China has swept up millions upon millions of migrant workers who are seeking decent incomes and better lives. "The long-term separation between spouses when one or both head for cities is fatal to their marriage," Xia said.

Even if a couple move to the same city and live together, they can barely have sex in the humble shelter they can afford. For the separated, they become vulnerable to extramarital affairs and even high-risk sexual behavior.

Besides, traditional values such as family loyalty and patriarchal authorities in the countryside have been eroded as the countryside is increasingly exposed to the influence of modern urban lifestyles. With growing alienation and infidelity between couples, divorce is regarded as more acceptable now in rural areas, Xia said.

"We hope the government gives due importance to the problem and considers improving the living conditions of migrant workers and creating opportunities for family reunions," she said.

Xia said she is increasingly concerned about how to allow under-represented women to share the economic achievements China has attained in the past three decades of reform and opening up.

She gave the example of Beijing where the per-capita GDP exceeded $7,000 last year. Is it possible that the municipal government could allocate a larger piece of the social welfare cake to poor and divorced women who have to bring up children on their own in the countryside? She offered two solutions: allowances and skill-training courses.

One more issue that caught Xia's attention is the stipulation made by the Ministry of Personnel decades ago which differentiates the age for retirement at 60 for men and 55 for women. Xia called this 'inequality" and "a waste of talent" and regretted the amendment acquiesces it but does nothing about it.

"We will never give up that endeavor," Xia said. "We should first ensure equality between women and men over compulsory retirement age and then offer both women and men choices whether they would like to retire at 60 or earlier."