China's career women hit by two-child policy

Beijing

SINCE China unveiled plans to repeal its one-child policy in October, quipsters on social media have joked that the strongest line that women can have on their resume is "married with two kids".

Not everyone is laughing. Some young female professionals such as 25-year-old Lei Jiawen said that this job-hunting season has been especially difficult. The new policy is probably making the search harder because "having a second child means the employer has to give you a second maternity leave", said Ms Lei. "So they would rather hire a man."