Monumental Women
“A monument is a statue, a building, or a structure erected to commemorate a notable person or an event.”
We advocate recognition of Women as a monument of our inspirations and more. We often overlook the great realizations women made to Arts & Culture. This project is our call to stand up with great women and to share their resilience to face adversity and to emerge as a monument.
This is a series of portraits of ordinary women doing extraordinary things in a world where we desperately need more empowerment for our heroes.
不朽的女人Monumental Women
“紀念碑是為了紀念著名人物或事件而豎立的雕像，建築物或其他結構。”
我們主張將對女性的認可作為我們靈感和更多靈感的豐碑。 我們經常忽視女性對藝術與文化的偉大認識。 這個項目是我們呼籲與偉大的女性站在一起，並分享她們面對逆境並成為紀念碑的韌性的時刻。這是平凡的女人們在世界上做著非凡事情一系列的肖像，在這裡我們需要給予我們的英雄們更多的力量。
1/ Can you introduce yourself briefly? Where you are from and what you do in Shanghai? How did you become an Entrepreneur?
I was born and grew up in Wuhan, a city located in central China. I have been living in Shanghai for the past 10 years. I run a brand consulting firm, helping companies to create and develop their branding. I did not plan to become an entrepreneur, this is what I love doing and I realized that there were opportunities where I could do a better business.
2/ How was it to grow up in China and how is it to grow up as a woman?
I think I had a rather happy childhood compare to how my parents grew up at their time, and compare to how my older brother grew up in the family.
I had a lot of freedom to choose what I wanted to do; I had time and space to develop myself. Probably because I was a girl in the family, there were not so much expectations for me and I didn’t grow up with a lot of attention; but it was a different story for my older brother.
On the other hand, most of the kids born in the 80’s in China are the only children in the family, I was fortunate enough to have a brother who made my childhood experience very unique and made me proud. Though I had no idea what my parents had to bear for having 2 kids.
Growing up as a woman in China, I was constantly juggling between traditional values and modern values. After living many years by myself, I was able to find a good balance that worked for me.
3/ You are working in a very competitive environment. What does it take to survive?
I think most importantly, you have to enjoy what you do, and then you will need to have a healthy mental strength to deal with most of the problems or situations. On the other hand, to having a clear vision for your future will also help a lot. It brings focus and solutions to every obstacle on the way.
4/ Do you think you have to face more adversity because you are a woman?
Not really. I feel the opposite. Society seems to have much higher expectations for men than for women; As a woman, I have been able to get away with many things, not to feel that I have to perform or achieve certain things to be accepted.
5/ Can it be an advantage to be a woman in your work environment?
I think it can be an advantage in my service business. I enjoy listening to others, I can be patient and flexible when there are conflict situations; I feel it is not too difficult for me to build trust with others. It is likely that women are naturally more understanding and receptive, these are nice advantages to have.
6/ Shanghai is a very populated city. What is it like for a Chinese woman to live in this particular place? Is it much different from other cities in China?
Definitely it is very different from any other city in China. It is so fun, diverse and vibrant; it is full of opportunities for friendship and business. I think it is a very safe and livable place for women.
Till today, I still feel like a tourist living in the city. I can always discover or explore something new. I am addicted to the comfort that I have found in Shanghai.
7/ Can you define a typical “Shanghainese woman”?
A typical Shanghainese woman is refined, beautiful and confident. She knows what she wants in her life. She knows how to live an elegant life. I don’t know if she always needs to work so hard, she sees life as having many options and her choices are always smart.
8/ In your opinion what are the challenges for Chinese women now and tomorrow? How will it evolve?
Today, the key challenge is probably to keep a balance between family and personal ambition; or managing the expectations from others and oneself. As women are becoming more emotionally and financially independent, the challenge of tomorrow will be how to lead a life for yourself and how to lead others. It will be an exciting time, and I believe future changes will be revolutionary. 🙂
1/ 你可以簡單介紹一下你自己嗎？你從哪裡來以及你在上海做什麼？你是如何成為一名企業家的？
我出生並成長於武漢，一個位於中國中央的城市。我住在上海已經10年了，我正在經營一家品牌諮詢公司，並幫助其他公司創建和發展品牌。我原本沒有打算成為一名企業家，這就是我喜歡做的事情，然後我意識到我有機會去做更好的生意而已。
2/ 對你來說在大陸生長的感受是怎麼樣地以及成長成為一名女性是怎麼樣地？
我想相較於我父母親們的年代，我生長的童年是相對於說比較快樂的，並且相較與我的兄長和他的家庭也是較於快樂的。
我有較多的自由去選擇我想要做什麼；我有時間及空間去拓展自我，可能因為我在家族裡是個女孩的關係吧，在這上面對我並沒有太多的束縛與期待，而且在我的成長中我並沒有受到很多的關注；但這又是另一個關於我兄長的故事了。
在另一方面，大部分的小孩都生於80年代的中國，他們在家中皆是獨生子女，我尤其幸運的我有一個哥哥，他讓我的童年經驗過得非常特別和驕傲。雖然如此，我還是搞不清楚我爸媽是如何忍受擁有兩個孩子的。
在中國成長成為一名女性，我經常在傳統價值觀與現代價值觀之間徘徊。經過多年的自我生活，我已經有能力去找到一個能穩固這兩點的平衡點了。
3/ 你在一個進爭強烈的環境底下工作。這需要什麼技巧來存活呢？
我認為最重要的是，你要熱愛你所做的並且有一個健康清晰的力量去對抗所有其他的問題與困境。另一方面來說，要擁有一個清楚對未來的願景，這也是很有幫助的方法之一。他會帶領你專注並且帶來方針去面對每個你眼前的障礙。
4/ 你覺得你必須要面對更多的困境因為自己身為一個女人嗎？
並不覺得。我感受的是相反。這個社會似乎對男人有著更高的期待相較於女人；當一個女人，我能夠避開很多事情，不需要去表演或者是達成任何被有所期許的事。
5/ 身為一個女性在職場上對你的工作有否有利？
我認為這對我的服務業務來說是一個優勢。 我喜歡聽別人說話，有衝突情況時我會耐心和靈活得去解決; 而且我覺得與他人建立信任並不太難。 女人很可能更容易理解和接受，這些都是很好的優勢。
6/ 上海是一個人口稠密的城市。 一個中國女人住在這個特別的城市是什麼感覺？ 它與中國其他城市有很大不同嗎？
它絕對是與中國其他城市截然不同的。 它是如此有趣，多樣和充滿活力; 它充滿了友誼和商業的機會。 我認為這對女性來說是一個非常安全和宜居的地方。
直到今天，我仍然覺得自己像一個生活在這個城市的遊客。 我總能發現或探索新事物。 我沉迷於我在上海找到的安慰。
7/你能定義一個典型的“上海女人”嗎？
典型的上海女人精緻，美麗，自信。 她知道自己生活中想要什麼。 她知道如何過上優雅的生活。 我不知道她是否總是需要努力工作，她認為生活有很多選擇，而她的選擇總是聰明的。
8/ 在你的角度看來，中國女性面臨的挑戰是什麼？明天的挑戰是什麼？ 它是如何演變的？
今天，關鍵的挑戰可能是在家庭和自己的野心之間保持著一個平衡點; 或處理他人和自己的期望。 隨著女性在情感上越來越獨立，在經濟上也越來越獨立，明天的挑戰將是如何為自己過上自己的生活並且領導他人。 這將是一個激動人心的時刻，我相信未來的變化可能是革命性的。:)
