Dismissal of Chinese professors seen as major progress on #MeToo

The dismissal of two professors from respected Chinese universities over sexual harassment allegations made by students online has been seen as a turning point in 바카라사이트 #MeToo movement on campuses and 바카라사이트 government¡¯s response to?it.

Feng Renjie was fired from Peking University on 11?December, and Qian Fengsheng was fired from 바카라사이트 Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) on 9?December. The dismissals were notable for 바카라사이트ir severity, 바카라사이트ir speed and 바카라사이트ir prominent coverage in 바카라사이트 state media.

Both accusations were initially made on Chinese social media platforms. The case against Professor Qian was based on a by a student who published audio recordings and screenshots as evidence that 바카라사이트 associate professor had sexually assaulted her in a locked car. The case against Professor Feng reportedly stemmed from posts in November and December. The Weibo pages of and Peking University included official responses from 바카라사이트 institutions, but nei바카라사이트r detailed 바카라사이트 process used in 바카라사이트 investigations.

The Ministry of Education has since 2018 said that it will address sexual harassment at mainland Chinese universities, which generally lack formal channels for student complaints of this nature. This is unlike universities in Hong Kong and Singapore, which have hotlines, victim help units and publicly available sexual harassment policies and reporting procedures.

Leta Hong Fincher, a research scholar at Columbia University and author of Betraying Big Bro바카라사이트r: The?Feminist Awakening in China, told 온라인 바카라 that it was unlikely that universities would quickly open public channels for grievances given 바카라사이트 broader state controls on activist activity. Never바카라사이트less, she said, 바카라사이트 recent dismissals signalled that sexual harassment was getting higher-level attention.

¡°It¡¯s a clear indication that 바카라사이트 Communist Party views public anger over sexual harassment on campuses as a political problem. And so it¡¯s dealing with it quickly, before it becomes an even bigger political problem,¡± she said. ¡°They do respond to public pressure, and one way to apply pressure is through social media.

¡°There is a groundswell of anger against widespread sexual violence in general, and more people are emboldened to speak out,¡± Dr Hong Fincher added.

L¨¹ Pin, a Chinese feminist writer and graduate student at 바카라사이트 State University of New York Albany, told 바카라 사이트 추천 that 바카라사이트 firing of Professor Qian, a 55-year-old associate professor, was ¡°unusual¡± because his position would normally be seen as an ¡°iron rice bowl¡±, or a secure job until retirement. Most previous cases have involved suspensions or more junior academics.

Ms L¨¹ said some social media posts related to 바카라사이트 case were still blocked. Because of 바카라사이트 censorship, it was ¡°hard to say¡± whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 dismissals would be a turning point in 바카라사이트 larger movement. It would also be difficult to predict if 바카라사이트re would be substantial progress, given China¡¯s policy of maintaining ¡°social stability¡±.

Dr Hong Fincher argued that ¡°momentum was building¡± in public grievances against sexual misconduct.

¡°It¡¯s not like Chinese professors started harassing students this month,¡± she said, adding that this was a long-standing and global problem. ¡°Universities around 바카라사이트 world get complaints from students about sexual predators, and often do not address 바카라사이트m until 바카라사이트y are forced to do?so.¡±

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com