Speedily delivering a new outlook

Tian's daughter, 19, studies at a university in Zhejiang province and Tian's goal is to save 100,000 yuan for her daughter as a trousseau when she gets married.

A growing number of women are entering the world of food delivery at a time when demand for riders is at a critical high, as restaurants are required to shut their doors and delivery has become essential for people.

Many of them, like Tian, are influencing other women and bringing changes to the food delivery industry, which used to be dominated by men. They're also sharing an important message: women are playing an even more important role in supporting their families and the job of being a food delivery rider is for everyone.

According to the China Internet Network Information Center, the number of food delivery service users was 150 million in 2016. The number reached 544 million in 2021. The number of food delivery riders rose from 2 million in 2016 to 7.7 million in 2021.

Sun Ping, an assistant researcher at the Institute of Journalism & Communication of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, researched the food delivery industry in 2017.

She found out that before 2020, the number of female food delivery riders was less than 10 percent of the total number. As the pandemic hit, the number of female food delivery riders increased drastically in Chinese cities, both big and small.

According to Sun's research, female food delivery riders are mostly above 30 and from all walks of life. Because of the pandemic, many people lost their jobs and turned to food delivery. To support their families, some women, who used to be housewives, became food delivery riders, as their husbands have become unemployed or are making less money.

"These women share something in common, that is, they work hard and they are not afraid of challenges. They are persistent and diligent. They take on greater responsibilities and do their best to take care of their families," said Sun in an interview published by a Chinese magazine, Life Week.

Sun's research shows that female food delivery riders are good at communicating with customers, especially at handling "difficult people".