BEIJING — Mao Zedong was arguably the father of Chinese feminism, with his famous observation that ‘‘women hold up half the sky.’’ But when Mao’s Communist Party heirs take to the stage this month to unveil their new leadership lineup, there aren’t likely to be many females — if any — among the country’s new rulers.

Only one woman, State Council member Liu Yandong, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the powerful Politburo Standing Committee, which effectively runs the country. But her chances appear to be slim, particularly amid suggestions that the Standing Committee could be cut from its current nine members to just seven.