Feminism in China refers to the collection of historical movements and ideologies aimed at redefining the role and status of women in China. Feminism in China began in the 20th century in tandem with the Chinese Revolution. Feminism in modern China is closely linked with socialism and class issues. Some commentators believe that this close association is damaging to Chinese feminism and argue that the interests of the party are placed before those of women.
Xuecheng is a Chinese Buddhist monk, a former member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and a popular blogger. He was president of the Buddhist Association of China from 2015 to 2018 when he resigned after allegations that he had engaged in corruption and sexual assault surfaced. He was ordered to be punished by the National Religious Affairs Administration after they corroborated the allegations.
Picking quarrels and provoking trouble is a crime under the law of the People's Republic of China.
Xiao Meili is a central Chinese women's rights activist and feminist since the 2010s. She was born in Sichuan, China, but most of her activities take place in Guangzhou, China and in Beijing, China, where she lived in 2015. She is mainly known for her campaigns that raise awareness about gender inequality in China and often utilize dramatic means to draw attention. Notable campaigns include the Bald Sisters, Beautiful Feminist Walk, and Armpit Hair Contest. Her trek across China garnered considerable attention that placed her under an international spotlight. She is closely associated with the Feminist Five, a famous group of five feminists in China, through their similar goals and collaborations.
Zheng Churan is a Chinese women's rights activist and feminist. Together with four other activists, she was detained, in March 2015, shortly before events planned for International Women's Day. They are collectively known as the Feminist Five. In November 2016, she became one of the BBC's 100 Women 2016.
Li Tingting, aka Li Maizi, is a Chinese campaigner and activist for gender equality, sexual harassment awareness, and sexuality. She was detained by police on the eve of International Women's Day in 2015, along with four other activists, for planning to protest sexual harassment on public transport. These four other activists are part of the Feminist Five which, along with Li, includes Wu Rongrong, Wang Man, Wei Tingting and Zheng Churan. They each are activists for different rights. Some of them fight for LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, sexual harassment awareness, and feminism and women's rights.
The Me Toomovement, with variations of related local or international names, is a social movement against sexual abuse and sexual harassment where people publicize allegations of sex crimes. The phrase "Me Too" was initially used in this context on social media in 2006, on Myspace, by sexual assault survivor and activist Tarana Burke. Harvard University published a case study on Burke, called "Leading with Empathy: Tarana Burke and the Making of the Me Too Movement".
The Me Too movement in India is a manifestation of the international Me Too movement that began in late 2018 in areas of Indian society including the government, the media, and the Bollywood film industry. In India, the Me Too movement is seen as either an independent outgrowth influenced by the international campaign against sexual harassment of women in the workplace, or an offshoot of the American "Me Too" social movement. Me Too began gaining prominence in India with the increasing popularity of the international movement, and later gathered sharp momentum in October 2018 in the entertainment industry of Bollywood, centered in Mumbai, when actress Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment. This led to many women in the news media, Indian films, and even within the government to speak out and bring allegations of sexual harassment against a number of perpetrators.
Yue Xin is a Chinese student activist and graduate from Peking University who disappeared on 23 August 2018, following her participation in the Jasic labour dispute. A Marxist and feminist, she was known for her advocacy of labour and women's rights prior to her disappearance.
Lü Pin is a Chinese feminist activist and journalist focusing on strategic advocacy to combat gender-based discrimination and violence. She is best known for founding the Feminist Voices (2009-2018), China's largest new media channel on women's issues and for feminist advocacy. She now resides in Albany, New York, where she continues to devote herself to supporting the activism of young feminists across China.
Carceral feminism is a critical term for types of feminism that advocate for enhancing and increasing prison sentences that deal with feminist and gender issues. It is the belief that harsher and longer prison sentences will help work towards solving these issues. The phrase "carceral feminism" was coined by feminist sociologist Elizabeth Bernstein in her 2007 article, "The Sexual Politics of the ‘New Abolitionism." Examining the contemporary anti-trafficking movement in the United States, Bernstein introduced the term to describe a type of feminist activism which casts all forms of sexual labor as sex-trafficking. She sees this as a retrograde step, suggesting it erodes the rights of women in the sex industry, and takes the focus off other important feminist issues, and expands the neoliberal agenda. Bernstein expanded on this analysis to demonstrate how feminism has more generally become a vehicle of punitive politics in the US and abroad.
Shi Yanjue is a Chinese Buddhist monk and the current president of the Buddhist Association of China, succeeding Shi Xuecheng, who was under investigation after being accused of various violations in a 95-page report, including the sexual harassment of several nuns.
The Me Too movement in Pakistan is modeled after the international Me Too movement and began in late 2018 in Pakistani society. It has been used as a springboard to stimulate a more inclusive, organic movement, adapted to local settings, and has aimed to reach all sectors, including the lowest rungs of society.
Xiaowen Liang is a Chinese feminist activist, organizer, and lawyer. She is part of the #MeToo movement in China.
Huang Xueqin, is a #MeToo activist, women's rights activist, and independent journalist in China. Before working as an independent journalist, Huang served as an investigative journalist for several newspapers in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. In September 2021, she and another activist, Wang Jianbing, disappeared and were believed to have been detained on charges of subversion of state power.
Nadeen Ashraf is an Egyptian feminist activist. Her use of social media instigated the #MeToo movement within Egypt. She is part of the BBC's 100 Women of 2020 list.
Saloni Chopra is an Indian-born Australian actress, model, and author, who works in Hindi films and television. Her book Rescued by a Feminist: An Indian fairy tale of equality and other myths was released in December 2020. In 2018, she joined the Me Too movement (India) after making allegations of sexual harassment against Sajid Khan.
The Feminist Five is a group of five Chinese feminists who were arrested in Beijing on March 6, 2015 for planning a protest against sexual harassment on public transportation. The quintet is composed of Li Maizi, Wu Rongrong, Zheng Churan, Wei Tingting and Wang Man.
Luo Qianqian which means "me too" in English.
Zhou Xiaoxuan, also known as Xianzi, is a Chinese screenwriter and leading advocate in the Chinese Me Too movement.
