Xianzi intends to fight back (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
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For two decades, Chinese feminism — influenced by Western cultural norms — was unheard of outside academic circles. The only reference to women’s rights had been Mao’s mantra that “women hold up half the sky” or General Secretary Jiang Zemin’s proclamation in 2000 that “men-women equality is a basic national policy“. But in the past five years, everything has changed.
Two months ago, Xianzi (real name, Zhou Xiaoxuan) lost her fight against the Chinese media establishment. She had only intended to prosecute Zhu Jun, a prominent TV host, for an alleged sexual assault. But in the court case that followed, she found herself on the receiving end of the full force of the Chinese TV network and the legal establishment. Somewhere in the middle, she also managed to rekindle a feminist movement that the Chinese state is struggling to contain.
The initial incident occurred in 2014, when Xianzi was a 21-year-old intern at the Chinese state broadcaster, CCTV, and was sent to interview Zhu in his dressing room. As one of the most recognisable TV hosts in the country, Zhu regularly presents the annual New Year TV spectacular, the most-watched TV show in the world. He is also a leading member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, an advisory body to the Chinese state. He is, suffice it to say, a figure with not inconsiderable political weight.
During that interview, Xianzi alleged that Zhu sexually molested her and that she was only able to escape his clutches when someone came to the door. The next day, she went to the police, who told her that she shouldn’t slander such a prominent personality’s reputation and threatened her parents’ jobs if she persisted. Her case lay dormant until, empowered by the burgeoning #MeToo movement in 2016, she felt that her only course of action was to write a 3,000-word essay about the incident online.
Immediately, the tables were turned when Zhu accused her of libel; of sullying his illustrious 20-year career. He denied all charges and launched a counterclaim for “smearing” his good name. In the ensuing court case — where much of the defence evidence was deemed inadmissible — he was cleared with no case to answer. Immediately afterwards, Xianzi announced that her battle had been “an extremely arduous and glorious journey” and she intends to appeal. The following day, the Chinese state responded in the only way it knows how: by closing down Xianzi’s social media accounts.
Xianzi had posted her original article on Douban, a social media platform in China that has increasingly become a forum for radical feminist voices. Such chatrooms have been allowed to flourish by a Chinese state happy to platform discussions that highlight the failings of the West and the superiority and stability in China. These forums are acceptable, that is, until Chinese activists begin to turn the conversation inwards.
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SubscribeThe successes of socialist feminism can be summarized shortly as: women should drive busses (even if they hate it) but can occasionally be raped by party members (if the party member is successful enough). This was common in all socialist countries.
The notion of ‘former people’ still going strong in Russia, China. Actual physical cancel culture. Must get round to reading Ai Wei Wei’s new autobiography. Heard him impressively reading first part on radio. Immense cruelty of the Cultural Revolution. Chinese tradition eh?
did anyone really believe #metoo would take off in China?
it is interesting to hear about dissidents in China though. The Chinese state seems to be very good at subverting, diverting and diminishing them. i guess as the inheritors of the young middle class red guard revolutionaries they know not to allow these types any slack.
a wee addendum, i think the author conclusion is way off the mark. the chinese state had no qualms about imposing military law and boarding up suspected covid cases in their own homes, and is carrying out the genocide of Uyghur Muslims in full view off the world. Why would they not use the same level of coercion on women too make them wheesht?
They had no qualms about forced abortions either. This is not new.
It’s a classic strategy: intelligent enemies always use the stupidity of their opponents.
Fascinating article.