Gendered challenges in the Chinese workplace : examining maternity leave and discrimination against working mothers in Shenzhen

Under the background that labor competition and the society progress become more in-tense, the dilemma of motherhood faced by working women has become increasingly prominent. This dissertation aims to explore gender challenges in the Chinese workplace, in particular the maternity leave system and its impact on discrimination against working mothers. Taking Shenzhen as an example, this study adopts qualitative research methods and systematically examines the challenges faced by working mothers in terms of maternity leave and employment discrimination through in-depth interviews with ten working mothers, seven human resource managers, three corporate employers and three in-depth interviewers. The study found that: first, the maternity leave provided by most private enterprises is lower than the statutory standard, the maternity leave pay is greatly reduced, and prenatal examinations and breastfeeding leave are seriously lacking; second, the phenomenon of women being transferred and demoted due to childbirth is common, missing promotion opportunities, and often being replaced and marginalized when returning to the workplace; third, employers have explicit and implicit discrimination against married and childbearing women in recruitment and employment, and pregnant women during the probation period face the risk of being dismissed; fourth, it is difficult to balance infant care and work, lack of family and social support system, and career development planning is forced to be interrupted. Factors affecting the workplace challenges of working mothers in Shenzhen come from two directions: At the institutional and policy level, the statutory maternity leave is not fully implemented, gender equality supervision in private enterprises is absent, and public childcare services are seriously lagging behind. At the cultural level, the workplace lacks a gender diversity and inclusive atmosphere, and the traditional concept of "men work outside and women work inside" is deeply rooted. This re-search shows that working mothers in Shenzhen face multiple difficulties such as poor maternity leave protection, widespread employment discrimination, sharp role conflicts, and limited promotion and career development. Support is needed in terms of improving maternity leave regulations, strengthening gender-equal employment supervision, promoting public childcare services, and advocating gender diversity in the workplace. At the same time, working mothers are encouraged to enhance their awareness of rights protection, improve their professional skills, create friendly and supportive family relationships, and seek breakthroughs and development in challenges. This study provides policy recommendations for promoting women's career development and achieving gender equality in the workplace. It also has practical significance for alleviating the current problem of low birthrate and achieving a balance between women's reproductive autonomy and employment equity.