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Women's Rights in China and Feminism on Chinese Social Media

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Women's Rights in China and Feminism on Chinese Social Media Issue Brief June 14, 2021 Women’s Rights in China and Feminism on Chinese Social Media Frida Lindberg In recent years, women in China have to a greater extent than previously raised their voices about issues relating to women’s rights and gender equality. Social media has served as an important tool and venue for women to share their own experiences with sexual harassment, domestic violence, and gender discrimination in the labor market. Yet, while the feminist movement has been on the rise over the past ten years, feminists and women in China who speak up about gender-related issues nevertheless face threats, antagonism, and censorship online.1China has stated that it aims to empower women and protect their rights.2 However, activities and discourses that have the potential to disturb the existing social order or challenge the authorities are not tolerated by the government, as social stability is one of its top priorities.3,4 This paper addresses how women and feminists in China use social media to speak up, while at the same time having to cope with gender antagonism in Chinese society and monitoring efforts by the government. Oppression and Discrimination Against enshrined in the constitution, while initiatives that Women in China involved women in building the new communist China were introduced.8 Through posters and In ancient China, women were subordinate to first speeches, the party projected the image of female and foremost their fathers, secondly their husbands, socialist icons, so-called “iron women”, who were and lastly, as widows, their sons. At that time, depicted as labor heroes that also managed to religious and philosophical norms had been set up maintain a harmonious family. However, women by men to benefit themselves in a male-dominated were seldom appointed to high positions, and their society. Needless to say, women’s status was far workload at home, in terms of housework and from equal to the status of men, either socially or childcare, remained heavy.9 In the 1970s, China 5 During the communist revolution in politically. was home to the biggest female workforce in the 1949, gender equality played, by contrast, a major world.10 Yet, women were often the first ones to be role in encouraging millions of Chinese women to sent home in state factory layoffs, and more women 6 Mao Zedong’s mobilize and join the revolution. returned to the home when expectations of them well-known saying, “women hold up half the sky”, having children rose.11 While China’s economy has seems to reflect the party’s emphasis on women’s role risen at a rapid pace since its process of reforming in society.7 “The equality of women and men” was 1 Issue Brief June 14, 2021 and opening up to the world began, the status of Amid the COVID-19 lockdown, police reports on women has regressed severely and gender inequality domestic violence doubled in some areas, while has deepened.12 tripling in others.21 Traditionally, domestic violence has been viewed as a private matter in China.22 This Traditionally, boys have been preferred over girls view still prevails, as many Chinese argue that “the in China, since they are viewed as more capable of disgrace of a family should never be shared outside”.23 providing for the family and carrying on the family As a result, it has taken a long time for China to pass name. The traditional preference for having sons legislation that criminalizes domestic violence. In was evident during the one-child policy, which was fact, it was not until 2016 that the first law targeting adopted in 1979 to curb China’s population growth domestic violence was enacted. 24 Despite the Anti- rate.13 Couples aborted female fetuses and abandoned Domestic Violence Law, domestic violence cases baby girls to ensure that their only child would be have nevertheless continued. Some argue that the male. As a result, there is a severe gender imbalance law is ineffective due to low public awareness about in China today.14 In 2015, it was announced that the the issue and punishments that are too lenient.25 In one-child policy would be dropped, likely due to the addition, the law has been criticized for promoting looming population crisis facing the country, driven family harmony and social stability, a principle that by decreasing birth rates, an aging population, and stems from Confucianism, as this seems to contradict a shrinking work force.15 Although couples have the law’s principle of preventing domestic violence. been allowed to have two children since 2016, many The law promotes mediation as a key method in choose not to.16 A population crisis would most handling cases of domestic violence. Yet, this entails likely affect China’s economic and social stability, risks for the victims involved. For instance, when which appears to concern the authorities who are family members mediate in these matters, which urging people to have more children. However, they are encouraged to do, it often means that many worry about the negative effects this push for victims are convinced to return to the perpetrator raised birth rates could have on women in China.17 to “win him back” and, thereby, “save the family”.26 Getting married and having children often imply that women take care of the children and most of In the labor market, gender discrimination against the housework, even when working full-time, due women is common. According to a study by All- to the still prevailing traditional gender norms and China Women’s Federation, 87 percent of female patriarchal traditions.18 graduates have experienced at least one type of gender discrimination while job searching.27 Furthermore, a report by Human Rights Watch shows that job ... it was not until 2016 that the advertisements in China discriminate against women first law targeting domestic by specifying requirements about the job being for men only or displaying a male preference.28 In 2017, violence was enacted.” 55 percent of the Ministry of Public Security’s job advertisements specified “men only”.29 In contrast, Oppression and discrimination against women job ads rarely specify any type of female preferences. are widespread in various parts of Chinese society, Some job ads have even required women to possess including the labor market and home life. At home, specific physical attributes, such as a desired height, many women suffer from domestic violence, which weight, voice, or facial features. Additionally, large 19 some refer to as “China’s hidden epidemic”. The All- companies like Alibaba have specified in job ads China Women’s Federation, a state-backed women’s that their female employees are “beautiful girls”, rights organization, reported in late 2019 that no likely to attract male applicants for vacant jobs.30 less than 30 percent of married women in China Chinese authorities have told employers to stop 20 have experienced some kind of domestic violence. asking for women’s marital or childbearing status 2 Issue Brief June 14, 2021 in job interviews. Government agencies have and independent feminists do exist in China.40 stated that gender bias is not allowed in the hiring process, including gender-based employment restrictions and the requirement of pregnancy ... speaking out often comes tests.31 Yet, many females are still being treated in this way.32 For instance, one woman that was with a price, as many of married when accepting a job had to sign a “special those who do so have faced agreement” saying that she would not get pregnant within two years or run the risk of losing her job.33 threats and censorship.” China’s Feminist Movement and Social media has played a crucial role in the rise of Antagonism Online the feminist movement in China.41 Women have to a greater extent used social media as a platform Over the past ten years, discussions about women’s to propel dialogue about and fight against sexual rights in China have come to the forefront to a assault and harassment, sexism, and stereotypes.42 In greater extent than before. An increasing number China, there are few outlets for women to go about of feminists, celebrities, and people in general this publicly, which is why many go online. More have started to speak up about for instance sexual specifically, Weibo, China’s equivalent to Twitter, has harassment, domestic violence, and unequal served as a platform for women to share their views treatment in the hiring process.34 2012 marks on and experiences with gender-related issues, such an important year for feminism in China. On as domestic violence and gender discrimination in Valentine’s Day, a group of young women took the workplace. Gender-related issues are not seldom to the streets in Beijing wearing wedding dresses among the most discussed topics on Weibo. However, stained with fake blood to raise awareness about speaking out often comes at a price, as many of those domestic violence. Later that month, some of these who do so have faced threats and censorship.43,44 women occupied men’s restrooms in Guangzhou Yang Li, one of China’s most famous comedians to protest against inequality in public facilities. who is known as the “punchline queen”, is one Furthermore, March 2015 has been described as a example. Yang addresses controversial gender issues turning point for China’s feminist movement. 35, 36, during her stand-up routines on Chinese television. 37 Some of these same women, five feminist activists In one episode from December 2020, Yang said in total, had planned to mark International Women’s that she had told a male comedian her new jokes, Day by distributing information about gender who, in response, said that she was “testing men’s equality and sexual harassment.
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