Dismissing women's achievements deserves scorn

YU MINHONG, founder of New Oriental Education and Technology Group, provoked a storm of criticism after he said at a recent forum: "The current degeneration of the whole country is caused by the degeneration of females." China Women's News comments:

Yu also said that Chinese women choose their partners on one standard only, namely the ability to make money. After his controversial words went viral online, they provoked an angry response from women around the country, and Yu apologized on Sunday, saying that what he meant was "the level of a country's females represent the level of the country".

On Tuesday, Yu visited the All-China Women's Federation and made a formal apology again, saying that his previous words lacked courtesy for women.

Whatever Yu truly meant, it is really astonishing to hear his previous expression, especially considering his huge influence as an education entrepreneur. First, it is unfair to conclude the whole country has degenerated. China has achieved good social progress as its economy has developed over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up. If Yu really lived in a country that had "degenerated", he would not have been able to found his enterprise and would not have found success.

Second, it is unfair and inappropriate to say women are degenerate. In fact, they have made huge contributions to the country. It is common for Chinese women to take jobs and work as hard as their male counterparts do. At the same time, they also shoulder the majority of the responsibilities at home.

That's why, minutes after Yu made his comments, he faced heavy criticisms from all sides online.

Of course, that anger is not against Yu the person, but against his wrong words. Personal attacks against him are unjustified.

It should be noted that detrimental remarks about women are common on social media networks. For example, some blame young women for choosing their partners purely on how much money they make. This is prejudice and young women should not shoulder the blame for this phenomenon.

These prejudices will perish with the progress of the whole society. We also hope influential public figures such as Yu will hear more voices from women, so that all can work together to promote gender equality.