Online shopping habits of women more diversified

Chinese women are becoming more independent and shedding the traditional stereotype of being doting wives and mothers, said a new study that tracked their online shopping habits.

Female consumers are spending big on boxing gloves and tool kits, items that were once perceived as highly masculine, according to Tmall, the country's largest business-to-customer site.

Nearly 3.55 million tool kits were purchased by female customers last year, an indication that the group has become more comfortable tackling home maintenance projects and repairs on their own, the report said.