March sees the start of the job hunting season for college graduates. But on International Women's Day, we are reminded of the many inequalities that Chinese women still face in job-hunting. Although most women now have more opportunities than before to go after their dreams, they are still not offered equal opportunities in the path to their chosen occupation.

Last week, the head of the enrolment office at Beijing Language and Culture University said that now male students majoring in languages are so popular that desirable employers such as government agencies and State-owned enterprises would give an offer to any male student who majored in languages with a handsome salary, even if he is not outstanding at all. The candid remarks revealed the gender inequality a woman has to suffer in the job market and hence triggered much debate.

While the current social welfare system is not able to provide adequate support or take some of the traditional burden off women's shoulders, employers prefer men or women who have already had children. They even ask women not to have maternity leave within a certain period to secure a job.

Some progress has been made in promoting gender equality. Data showed that in the ongoing two sessions, China's major political event, there are 702 females among more than 5,000 delegates who gather in Beijing to discuss legislative affairs. While the particular group has attracted much attention, it to some extent suggests gender inequality.

While female executives and leaders often have to bear questions about their capabilities, most working women lose out to men in fighting for a higher position and face the glass ceiling. An article in the People's Daily said that a woman still has to undergo more difficulties than a man to live her life with dignity.

Now in China, eligible families are allowed to have second child, but women have to be concerned about more discrimination and inequality resulted from the policy. The proposal by some delegates to extend maternity leave from the current 98 days to three years has been questioned by many female commentators as they worry this may cost them their jobs.

Governments need to make more efforts to improve social welfare and security to lessen women's concerns when pursuing what they want to be. However, as British actress Emma Watson said, "Gender is your issue too." Intensive discussion and reflection about gender inequality on a particular day is far from enough and it should be always taken seriously by every individual and employer.