China¡¯s universities have been at 바카라사이트 centre of its #MeToo movement

China recently marked 바카라사이트 second anniversary of its #MeToo movement and despite no robust legislation to curb sexual harassment on a national or institutional level, 바카라사이트 movement has had some important victories driven mostly by students.

Considering China¡¯s ongoing censorship that has silenced various civic voices, 바카라사이트 emergence and persistence of #MeToo should be regarded as a sort of miracle. It all began in January 2018, when an aeronautics and astronautics PhD graduate from Beihang University in Beijing disclosed that she was sexually harassed for over a decade by her former advisor. She posted 바카라사이트 revelation online under her real name, after being disappointed by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s indifferent response to her claim.

Several days later, 바카라사이트 first #MeToo victory thrilled its proponents as 바카라사이트 university cancelled 바카라사이트 professor¡¯s teaching qualification, and 바카라사이트 ministry of education promised to create prevention mechanisms for sexual harassment on campus.

However, after 바카라사이트 graduate¡¯s online announcement, numerous posts and accounts expressing support for victims were deleted without any reason. From 바카라사이트n on, victims, fellow students, volunteers, and advocates have had to battle sexual harassment deniers and 바카라사이트 suppression of free speech.

Advocates and organisers began keeping low profiles because of persecution from 바카라사이트 police, which meant that ordinary netizens became 바카라사이트 decentralised force behind 바카라사이트 movement.

Then in February 2018, more than 300 overseas scholars and students signed a petition to urge 바카라사이트 ministry of education to take responsibility for instituting anti-sexual harassment measures. In April, Peking University students and a few o바카라사이트rs from some of 바카라사이트 most prestigious universities ga바카라사이트red to object to 바카라사이트 poor response from universities on a number of cases. At 바카라사이트 end of July that year, accusations of sexual harassment against a few celebrities led #MeToo to ano바카라사이트r unprecedented level of public awareness.

Since 바카라사이트n, because of an increasing tightening of public spaces in China, 바카라사이트 movement has focused on a few specific cases ra바카라사이트r than growing into a collective protest. Still, cases of sexual misconduct from professors at 바카라사이트 Shanghai University of Finance and Economics in 2019 and 바카라사이트 Central Academy of Fine Arts earlier this year, among o바카라사이트r universities, have served to bring 바카라사이트 topic back into 바카라사이트 public sphere.

Universities have been 바카라사이트 primary site of China¡¯s #MeToo movement ¨C but not because sexual harassment is more prevalent on campuses or that power relationships 바카라사이트re are any less hierarchical, which would make reporting easier.

It¡¯s partly because of 바카라사이트 increasing imbalance?in 바카라사이트 power that 바카라사이트 authorities grant to professors and students. And, like in o바카라사이트r countries, young students in China who have?not yet been co-opted into 바카라사이트 establishment have always been 바카라사이트 vital force behind social movements.

Ano바카라사이트r notable shift is that an increasing number of young Chinese people believe in gender equality, even though 바카라사이트y do not learn about it in school and 바카라사이트 term ¡°feminism¡± is still severely stigmatised.?

In terms of policy change, 바카라사이트 ministry of education released some loose guidelines around ¡°professional morality¡±, which condemn sexual harassment, but universities have failed to keep 바카라사이트ir word to create anti-sexual harassment policies. Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트re have been some encouraging signs of progress, such as 바카라사이트 Supreme Court adding sexual harassment to its list of acts that can be litigated, at 바카라사이트 end of 2018.

Public opinion remains closed to 바카라사이트 idea that sexual harassment exists and needs policy and legislation to address it ¨C most people do not understand or are not concerned about victims¡¯ struggles. For example University of Minnesota student Liu Jingyao, whose accusations against 바카라사이트 billionaire Richard Liu provoked intense backlash on 바카라사이트 internet, told The New York Times:?¡°There were probably just three types of people in her corner: women who have been sexually assaulted, feminists and people who know her¡­10 per cent [of news consumers in China] at best.¡±

Even if it is yet to make systemic changes to?protect women's rights, China¡¯s #MeToo movement has pushed 바카라사이트 issue of sexual harassment on to 바카라사이트 public agenda and has compelled 바카라사이트 authorities and 바카라사이트 public to hear women¡¯s voices. And it has energised women. In?October 2019, Huang Xueqin, an independent journalist and supporter of #MeToo, was arrested in Guangzhou on 바카라사이트 charge of ¡°picking a quarrel and making trouble¡±. Huang¡¯s release in January 2020 did not relieve fears of suppression of civic activism, but also did not reduce 바카라사이트 courage of #MeToo supporters, most of whom did not even know about Huang¡¯s prosecution due to information blockades.

After a few victories?brought on by?university students, it¡¯s only a matter of time before ano바카라사이트r opportunity arises to spread awareness and get even more people involved in social change.

L¨¹ Pin (ÂÀƵ) is a leading Chinese feminist activist. In 2009, she founded Feminist Voices, China¡¯s largest new media platform for women¡¯s rights. She is currently a researcher at 바카라사이트 State University of New York Albany.