Mapping Gender Pay Disparities in Chinese Finance: A Systematic Literature and Bibliometric Review

Despite growing global concern, the gender pay gap (GPG) within China’s financial sector remains underexplored through systematic, data-driven approaches. This study presents one of the few, if not the only, systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analyses focused on the GPG in this context, aiming to map the intellectual landscape, thematic evolution, and policy relevance of the field. Peer-reviewed English-language articles published between 1975 and 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, enabling international benchmarking and citation mapping. A three-tiered screening protocol narrowed 209 initial records to 64 eligible studies. Bibliometric tools, including VOSviewer and R Bibliometrix, were applied to visualize co-authorship and co-citation networks. The analysis revealed three dominant research clusters—salary transparency, organizational barriers, and leadership gaps—while identifying emerging intersections with FinTech, ESG, and intersectionality frameworks. Despite these trends, the findings indicate limited citation influence, thematic fragmentation, and weak scholarly integration. While the exclusion of Chinese-language literature is a limitation, it is justified for comparative consistency. Overall, this study demonstrates how combining bibliometrics with policy analysis uncovers underexplored “invisible metrics” that sustain gender disparities. It provides a foundational evidence base for future academic inquiry and actionable reforms aligned with SDG 5 and ESG mandates.