"There you go again," some of my colleagues yawn or snicker whenever I raise the issue of gender inequality.

"Enough is enough" or "Can't you be satisfied?" seems to be their underlying message.

But I always feel my voice and my pen weak and ineffective even though I have been trying hard for years to help my readers understand the fact that discrimination against women and attitudes of male chauvinism are alive and continuing to hurt Chinese women.

The general media have not been much help in getting rid of the traditional stereotypes against women.

Even when news media tackle such serious problems as sex imbalance among people born after the 1990s, they fall short of delving into the root of the matter.

In the past week, there has been media coverage of a report from the State Population and Family Planning Commission saying that for every 100 baby girls born in 2005, there were 118.58 baby boys, and the gap will continue to widen. The news also singled out Guangdong and Hainan provinces, where there are 130 baby boys for every 100 baby girls.

The topic was so sensational that leading wire services and other news media around the world reported it.

However, most of the Chinese media reports clearly are more concerned about the wellbeing of the men, highlighting the fact that many of them will have a very difficult time finding a wife.

"By 2020, some 30 million Chinese men will find it well-nigh impossible to find a bride as a result of a rising gender imbalance," one article read.

Another even went so far as to say, "If your child is a girl born after the 1990s, you will be able to cash in on a lot as things rare generate high value," as if women are only good for a handsome dowry.

There are also serious concerns for social stability.

As far as the root of the matter is concerned, news media just stop short of condemning the traditional male chauvinism entrenched in Chinese culture, as if it is something we can do little about.

The ongoing nationwide "Care for Girls" campaign has also been highlighted, but questions remain over how effective it is.

The campaign itself can hardly grapple with the fact that women are far from being equal to men in many aspects of social life in China today.

According to a four-month survey last year that covered 28 cities and provinces, researcher Li Peilin, of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, discovered that Chinese women on average still lagged behind men in education, employment and monthly income.

He also pointed out that women enjoyed fewer benefits in pension and health care.

Although he did not elaborate, the fact that women are required to retire five or more years earlier than their male colleagues determines that they are not able to enjoy the same amount of retirement pension and health care. Their earlier retirement also prevents them from getting further promotions.

In education alone, 32.2 percent of the women surveyed did not receive formal education. The figure for men was 16.3 percent.

I agree with Li that ensuring that women enjoy the same education and job opportunities as men is actually one of the important steps that must be taken if China is determined to stop illegal fetus gender tests.

Without concrete steps, such campaigns as "Care for Girls" will not achieve the desired effect.

(China Daily 01/25/2007 page10)