Caroline Roche
// Chinese authorities must allow sexual abuse survivors to share their stories //
Can China’s #MeToo movement overcome the obstacles posed by censorship of the media? The #MeToo movement is a social media phenomenon that went viral in the United States, sparking conversations about justice for sexual assault victims. The campaign originated in America but has since spread all over the globe. However, in countries where citizens do not share the same rights to post freely and authentically on social media, similar movements have been less successful. In China, social media censorship has prohibited many victims from sharing their stories. To obtain necessary justice for victims, Chinese authorities must create a platform for sexual assault victims, rather than censoring them.
The movement in America was sparked by actress Alyssa Milano in 2017, tweeting, “If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me Too,’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.” Since then, the #MeToo hashtag has been used millions of times on social media platforms such as Twitter, exposing countless abusers. For example, despite his power in Hollywood’s entertainment industry, Harvey Weinstein now sits behind bars on charges of sexual assault. Exposing influential figures like him, whose power previously allowed him to get away with egregious behavior, sets a tone of national intolerance for future sexual crimes.
This ignited the country’s own version of the #MeToo movement, parallel to America’s. In 2018, activist Zhou Xiaoxuan came forward via Weibo, a blogging website, accusing Zhu Jun, a renowned Chinese television host, of sexual assault. She claimed that when conducting an interview with the television star, he continuously groped her despite her efforts to resist. Her post went viral and sparked action among many women and victims. For example, a fan of pop star Kris Wu came forward, accusing him of intoxicating and assaulting her while unconscious. Furthermore, according to U.S.A Today, the victim states, “other women told her Wu seduced them with promises of jobs and other opportunities.” People in positions of power like Zhu Jun and Kris Wu can easily get away with such injustices, as victims fear the consequences of speaking out. Without the #MeToo movement creating an environment where victims felt supported by each other, these women might not have told the truth.
Activists in China have been held back from launching a similar movement to that in America due to severe social media censorship. Chinese authorities argue that the #MeToo movement is being used as a Western tool to cause controversy and “tear Chinese society apart.” As a result, Chinese cybersecurity has since silenced the voices of activists, hindering the movement. After the court hearing, Zhou lost her platform and was banned from Weibo. Zhou states, “People’s accounts are constantly getting suspended. There is no way for me to contact them. I’ve lost the chance to say thanks to them.” BBC News states, “Even the phrase “rice bunny,” a Chinese homonym for the #MeToo campaign, has been removed from Chinese social media.” Posting on Weibo should not be the only way for victims to finally receive attention, especially since they still risk censorship if they post, making it impossible for the movement to gain recognition and spur necessary change.
It is time abusers be held accountable, and Chinese authorities must make this process easier for activists. Silencing victims who are reliant on social media to gain a platform renders it impossible for them to seek the justice they deserve. China must create a platform for victims to speak up rather than silencing these voices.
Protestors holding up signage in support of the #MeToo movement.