According to professor Tong Xin, Dean of the Sociology Department at Peking University, judging from the popularity of such courses, it is good to see that society and the marketplace are beginning to address the social dilemma confronting female leaders.

Tong said she didn't know the details of what the lecturers taught in the seminars, but said that if the management courses can do something to improve women's sense of self-worth in terms of gender equality and independent thinking relating to family and society relationships, it is a good thing.

According to Tong, an important role the programmes may play is providing a platform for bewildered female entrepreneurs to exchange and seek support and confidence.

Tong mentioned that society still has different expectations for the two genders.

For example, management courses for men seldom address issues like family relationships and how to spend more time with their children. But female leaders are still expected to cope with various social roles.

"The long-accumulated pressure on these successful women has to find a way to be released; perhaps these classes offer a way," Tong told China Daily.

"They may help the women dispel their confusion and gain social support through communi cating with women from similar backgrounds," said Tong.

Despite all the debate, many of the course participants said they welcomed the courses, citing different parts as their favourites.

Deng Jia, a 36-year-old advertisement company leader with a bachelor's degree in economics from a Japanese university, joined one of the training programmes last year. She said management skills based on female peculiarities were her favourite part.

Deng said she had problems managing beforehand.

"For example, I used to adopt a more masculine way of management, using scolding and fury to discipline employees. It made me firm but not so popular," said Deng.

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