Career and life expectations of Chinese business students: the effects of gender

Abstract

The career and life expectations of male and female Chinese students and graduates of the Certified General Accountants (CGA) Canada program in China were explored using a survey and semi‐structured interviews. The results of the survey were compared to data from students of a leading Canadian business school. Chinese students of both sexes show a much higher level of commitment to their careers than their Canadian counterparts. Despite this commitment, their qualifications, and the critical shortage of professionally trained people in China, female Chinese students are pessimistic about their prospects for career advancement. They cite negative stereotypes, lack of mentors and role models, isolation, and a lack of organizational policies enabling them to successfully fulfill their parental roles as major barriers. This is consistent with the North American literature on the “glass ceiling”.