1988年9月,陈慕华在第六次全国妇女代表大会上当选全国妇联主席。此前,当中央领导同志找她谈话,推荐她为全国妇联主席时,她曾惊讶地问:“你们是不是选错了人?”在确信她要担任此职后,陈慕华曾经幽默地说:“我这辈子没做过妇女工作,这回可是‘赶鸭子上架’。” In September 1988, Chen Muhua was elected chairman of the All-China Women’s Federation at the Sixth National Women’s Congress. Earlier, when the central leading comrades sought her advice and recommended her to be the chairman of the All-China Women’s Federation, she was surprised to ask: “Did you choose the wrong person?” After confirming that she was going to hold the post, Chen Muhua said humorously : “I’ve never done a woman’s job in my life, but this time I’m hurrying the ducks up.”