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Globe-trotter helps women
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Liu Fuzhong
AT the recent policy-making meeting of the World Bank in Prague, Karin Sigmund, a young
woman from Germany, caught a lot of attention. She was not representing Germany or other
European countries. She spoke on behalf of Chinese entrepreneurs, expressing their point
of view in mapping World Bank plans to assist in China's economic development. She also
made a special appeal to World Bank policy makers to help Chinese women entrepreneurs, who
greatly contribute to Chinese economic development.
Sigmund is a senior executive for external relations with the World Chinese Entrepreneurs
General Association, a non-government organization based in Hong Kong.
Ms Sigmund, having addressed such bodies as the World Bank and the United Nations, gave a
lecture at Shenzhen Daily's English Salon on Wednesday. Afterwards, she talked about her
fascinating life.
"Like many other women, I am always caught between developing my own career and
helping my fiancé," she says. "Many Western women prefer independence.
Yet I find many local women who strike just the right balance between their careers and
families. Indeed I have learned a lot from my female friends in Shenzhen."
"Yet there are also wives in Shenzhen who become much too dependent on their
husbands. They would give tacit assent to disloyal husbands [in exchange] for economic
security. Some even live with domestic violence, as tradition tells them not to disclose
domestic disgrace," she said.
"These phenomena are seen worldwide. I believe in my possible future capacity, I will
be able to play a greater role in addressing these problems," she said.
Sigmund also believes that everyone can contribute to bridging the gender gap to ensure we
all work to our full potential.
She made a special point of helping local businesswomen by providing them with necessary
information about investment and business management. She even offers help in developing
business plans and finding business partners for local women entrepreneurs.
"As Shenzhen moves up the economic scale, social problems like husbands' disloyalty
rise. I believe that the major solution to problems like adultery and domestic violence is
economic security for women," she said.
Helping local women become self-reliant also contributes to social and family stability,
she said.
Asked who she admires most, she said Hillary Clinton. "She represents exactly that
spirit of independence and self-reliance," she said.
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