This Article presents the full picture of Chinese women’s career path from law school to the courts, from junior judge to court leader. Using up-to-date data and interviews, it provides an informative account of why and how women are currently entering the court system in China, and the obstacles encountered in their rise in the court system. Most courts in China face greater difficulty recruiting men than women, which leads to mechanisms that especially advantage men. This Article aims to explain the current gap between the increasing number of female judges in courts and their lack of representation in leadership
positions. In addition to factors such as childbirth and work-life balance which make career development more difficult for women in some other professions, many female judges also and the prospect of having to make personal sacrifices in the pursuit of leadership positions—such as relocation to distant places— unappealing and inconsistent with their initial career motivation for entering the judiciary in search of a professional job that offers stability and reasonable work-life balance. There are also deep-lying social and cultural factors which make it more challenging for female judges to be strong leaders and good judges while conforming to the traditional conception of successful women in Chinese society. This Article provides critical analysis on women pursuing careers in Chinese courts, and predicts that the increasing number of female judges in courts will lead to more women in court leadership roles in the future.
Gender Equality as a Social Process: Opportunities and Dilemmas of Female Judges in Chinese Courts (Vol. 56.2)
18 Aug 2025