For women in China’s already under-pressure civil society groups, it can be even more difficult, as they are urged to keep silent for fear of helping the government crack down on activists and dissidents.
Xiong Jing, director of the Beijing-based Women’s Media Monitor Network, told CNN that many men in the activist sphere have been able to take advantage of their reputation as do-gooders.
“They’re famous, they’re powerful, and they make great contributions (to society), that’s exactly what makes them think they have the power to sexually harass women,” she said.
However, there are signs of a shift underway, and a new wave of #MeToo reckoning in China.
This is combined with a new freedom to discuss the matter online, as the previously pervasive censorship of the issue has given way somewhat, leading the conversation around sexual harassment and assault to explode.
Wave of accusations
Far from being wary of calling out men whose work is important, many women airing their accusations have highlighted the hypocrisy of their abusers, and the disparity between their public and private faces.
“All you talk about is justice and morality, but behind our backs you are full of greed and lust,” wrote one woman who works in the environmental sphere on Weibo, China’s equivalent to Twitter.
“It’s too bad that I’m not afraid, as no matter what words you arrange to embarrass me, I will, as always, expose you. Because, I know you are a criminal! Because, I am someone who serves the public.”
Wang, the journalist, said she was inspired that “Chinese women are speaking out loudly and firmly, and more people are calling them ‘courageous,’ rather than: ‘she brought it (on) herself.’
“Feminist ideas are gaining traction, despite state repression on women’s rights activism,” she added.
#MeToo activism first took hold on university campuses, according to Xiong, where women spoke out against predatory professors and students.
From students, awareness and activism over the issue has spread out to professional circles, Xiong said, and a new wave is cresting as women feel emboldened seeing others speaking out.
“You could say it’s a shift — or that it’s erupting like a volcano,” she said.
Pushback
“This just shows that they don’t really see women as human, they don’t think that sexual harassment is a big deal,” she said.
Amid the accusations and support for women making them this week were also stories of frustration and pressure to be silent.
A woman who made accusations against a prominent state television anchor said online that she was urged by police to withdraw her complaint because the man in question had an “enormous ‘positive influence’ on society.”
Hainan Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
‘Just the start’
While the rules governing censorship on the Chinese internet are opaque at the best of times, the sheer weight of posts and growing awareness at all levels of society of the issue of sexual harassment may be leading to more official tolerance. The censors are also always more tolerant of criticism when it’s not aimed at officials themselves.
With several #MeToo exposés going viral this week, Chinese social media consultancy GS Data said there was a spike in discussion of sexual harassment this week on WeChat, a messaging platform, with more than 40 million related searches and impressions. An online call by Chinese magazine People for women to send in stories of sexual harassment received more than 1,700 submissions in 24 hours.
“I think this is just the start,” Xiong said. “A lot of emotions and hurt have been buried, but they have not disappeared.”
“On the one hand, the overall environment is getting better because a lot of people are criticizing the sexual harassment,” Xiong said.
“On the other, those who are still powerful, especially older men in powerful positions, they are protecting each other, they have a brotherhood which protects each other.”
CNN’s Cat Wang and Serenitie Wang contributed reporting.
Source : Nbcnewyork