Obviously, unsavory gossip on social media may not be an accurate reflection of China as a whole. But it shows that national discussion of sexual assault, as well as gender-inflected balances of power, still revolves in part around staid attitudes towards women.
As the online furor around Liu Qiangdong’s (still alleged) crime continues, a likely unrelated woman has been drawn into the fray and cast as a seductress. And while netizens have expressed sympathy for Zhang Zetian, others have implicitly criticized her appearance. It’s not exactly a triumph of feminism.
Elsewhere in the Chinese tech world, ride-hailing companies are still dealing with the fallout after two female passengers were murdered by Didi Hitch drivers over the course of four months. While Didi has rushed to make amends and add safety features, multiple media outlets and observers have questioned the design of the carpooling service in the first place. By marketing it as a way to meet pretty women and letting drivers leave comments on passengers』 appearances, China’s biggest ride-hailing app may have set the scene for abuse.
Similarly unhelpful, although for opposite reasons, were online recommendations for Chinese women to take measures like staying home at night in the wake of the first Didi murder case. As SupChina reported, a professor at Chinese People’s Public Security University drew particular criticism for his impractical and sometimes insulting suggestions.
This past July, women and men in China’s burgeoning #Metoo movement were making waves as well as headlines for standing up against powerful people in a range of industries. A little over a month later, news of Liu Qiangdong’s arrest in the US has again highlighted the issue of sexual assault, but without empowering anyone in the process.