Chinese Journalist On Trial For Supporting #MeToo
Written by: Ashna Balroop | Edited by: Veronika Bianca Millena
The #MeToo movement was created with the intent of raising awareness surrounding sexual abuse and harrasment. Founded by activist Tarana Burke in 2006, it helped build a community of advocates who shared the same goal of advancing women’s rights and protesting sexual violence. The movement is credited with giving visibility to the dexterity of women’s rights worldwide. Now, a prominent Chinese Journalist, Huang Xuequin, is on trial for covering the #MeToo movement in China. This is part of her story.
Xuequin was arrested in September 2021 for publishing surveys that concluded sexual harassment as being a serious problem in China. She was charged with “inciting subversion of state power.” The government of China believed that she was trying to overthrow the political power of the state by covering the movement. They believed that her journalistic research went against their values.
Xuequin had been in detention for two years, her trial being delayed repeatedly by the government. She was constantly interrogated by the Chinese government for her activism. This detrimentally affected her mental and physical health. Now, she finally has a trial, but the Chinese government is reducing public attention on the case by being secretive. Many diplomats from Western Countries,such as Great Britain and the U.S.,were denied to attend the trial. The government also blocked off any and all roads leading to the courthouse. Their reasoning was that they wanted to keep the trial discrete. However, advocates for Xueqin protested outside of the courthouse, citing the unfair treatment she was receiving surrounding her trial. Some members of the Chinese public side with her, but are afraid to do so incase the government oppresses them aswell.
William Nee, a research and advocacy coordinator at Chinese Human Rights Defenders, an activist network, stated that she “may be facing retaliation for her journalistic efforts.” Her dedication towards the #MeToo movement does not go unnoticed. In addition to publishing surveys, Xuequin also set up a social media account dedicated to helping Chinese women report sexual harassment claims. She additionally joined #MeToo movement protests shortly before her arrest.
The Chinese government is oppressing activism, and looks to make a statement through the trial of Huang Xuequin. Her supporters call for the release of Xuequin. She was only looking to help advance women’s rights, not overthrow an entire government.
Sources
“Inciting Subversion of State Power.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 July 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inciting_subversion_of_state_power#:~:text=The%20article%20defines%20the%20offence,%2C%20slander%20or%20other%20means%22.
“Me Too Movement.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 29 Sept. 2023, www.britannica.com/topic/Me-Too-movement.
Stevenson, Alexandra, and Zixu Wang. “A Chinese Journalist Gave #MeToo Victims a Voice. Now She’s on Trial.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 22 Sept. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/09/22/world/asia/china-metoo-journalist-trial.html.
Yang, William. “#MeToo Journalist, Labor Activist on Trial for Subversion in China.” VOA, Voice of America (VOA News), 23 Sept. 2023, www.voanews.com/a/metoo-journalist-labor-activist-on-trial-for-subversion-in-china-/7280863.html#:~:text=Independent%20Chinese%20journalist%20Huang%20Xueqin,state%20power%22%20the%20following%20month.
