Day 4 Independent Women, Work in Higher Position

It's amazing to find women taking a large proportion of Norway's upper administration and government institutes. Many women are found working in higher positions in Norway, and they are happy and successful. Ellen Horn, an actress and former culture minister is one of them. Why are most women in Norway independent and share more powers with men? Yan Yinan talks to a Chinese researcher from Tsinghua University to get an insight of the issue.

I talked to Ms. Sunmeng, a researcher and lecturer from the prestigious Tsinghua university. She studied Ibsen and his play A Doll's House in Norway 2 years ago.

In his drama, Ibsen encourages women to be independent. In the end of A Doll's House; Nora leaves her husband and family to pursue her own individual freedom.

This explains why women in Norway enjoy a pretty high status both economically and socially.

In this sense, Ibsen has inspired a lot of Chinese writers as well to promote awareness of women's independence.

In the early 20th century, Famous Chinese revolutionary writer Luxun had picked up from where Ibsen left off. He asked a thought provoking question: Will Nora eventually be accepted by a society which is dominated by men?

Women in China now are more independent thanks to the work of Ibsen and Luxun, as well as millions of others.

But more needs to be done in society to promote women's independence according to Ms. Sun, because only when women achieve economic independence can they finally achieve equality in society.

The year 2006 is the centenary anniversary to mark the death of Henrik Ibsen. According to the former culture minister, numerous activities will be held to remember the great playwright in Norway and around the world.

Well, we are expecting to stage plays and all sorts of activities to remember Ibsen in China as well. So that was yanyinan talking with the former Culture minister of Norway and a researcher in Ibsen drama studies. She will be back tomorrow with her last day of Norway impressions where she takes us to the capital of Norway, Oslo, a city known for its Nobel Peace prize ceremonies.