Recently we have been seeing several women in positions of power and responsibility. But perhaps a bigger indicator of the changes China has made is the average woman, who no longer is beaten or sold or illiterate. Even though those three things still occur, they are neither commonplace or acceptable. When I look at the radical reforms the CCP has attempted and the success they have found with each, I say challenging gender roles has been a huge success. Post-Mao leaders have had difficulty in this arena, as Against the Tides points out.
Illiteracy is much higher for women than men, and women still marry out of families.
Every family still wants a son and with the one-child family policy, women can be seen as a waste or a missed opportunity and consequently treated poorly. China's biggest obstacle I think is breaking with tradition and not allowing itself to slip backwards after considerable forward motion.