Social media users rally behind abused woman, help her get justice

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-A young woman believed to be a sex worker was harassed in a Beijing hotel as staff and guests looked passively

-The video of the incident highlighted violence against women in public and private spaces

-The violator was arrested and charged, but not for this particular incident

On April 3, a young woman being abused by a man in a Beijing hotel caught the attention of Chinese people on social media.

The woman, surnamed Meng, was dragged and mishandled as onlookers, including hotel staff, looked sluggishly – until a female guest at the hotel rushed to rescue her from the aggressor.

Though the police arrived on scene, they refused to file a case. They said Meng was physically unharmed and nothing was stolen; they also dismissed the man’s act as he was intoxicated.

Meng slammed the police of “low efficiency” and took on to social media.

The Beijing Wangjing 798 Yitel where the assault incident happens on April 3, 2016. /China Daily Photo

Two days after the incident, Meng shared the surveillance footage from Wangjing 798 Yitel on her Weibo account @Wanwan_2016, which shows the man trying to grab and pull her in the hotel corridor.

Meng's post racked up over 2 billion views on China's Twitter-like Weibo and instant messaging application WeChat within 48 hours of being published. Her story soon triggered not only a tsunami of support but also concerns about women's safety in public and private spaces. Many also questioned the apathetic bystanders who are often inactive and don't intervene, even when the other person is being abused.

Protesters rally outside the Yitel in Beijing demanding more protection for women after the incident. /AFP Photo

The video also raised additional questions on violence against women in China. In a society deeply rooted in patriarchy, women are often subject to various forms of abuses – in public domain and also in private spaces, especially in the households.

The All-China Women’s Federation estimates that almost 25 percent of Chinese women have experienced some form of domestic violence, but the organization only receives between 40,000 and 50,000 cases annually.

Meng with screen name “Wanwan_2016” chronicled her experience which she believed was an attempted rape in a long article with links of the uploaded hotel footage on Sina Weibo on April 5, 2016. /Weibo Photo

The underreporting of such cases underscores the magnitude of China’s “hidden problem.” Many consider domestic violence case as a “private matter,” while others are worried of retribution. For some, sharing their domestic disputes publicly is a shameful act.

But in late December 2015, China enacted its first domestic violence law, prohibiting any forms of physical, psychological or other harms.

Meng’s case, though it wasn’t an incidence of domestic violence, resonated with the abuse many Chinese women struggle on a daily basis. Many female commentators online commended her for being “courageous,” openly sharing her experience on a public domain.

And it is Meng’s bold decision to talk about the incident publicly that led to her abuser being arrested.

Li Shuaitao is sentenced to 2 years with penalties of 5,000 Chinese yuan (740 US dollars) by Beijing Chaoyang District People’s Court for pandering on November 4, 2016. /Xinhua Photo

On April 7, police arrested the man, Li Shuaitao, in central China’s Henan Province and was later tried – but it was for pandering other women, not assaulting Meng.

At the Beijing Chaoyang District People’s Court, Li said he attacked Meng because he had mistaken her for a sex worker trying to “steal his business.”

Li pleaded guilty to charges of procuring women as sex workers.

On November 4, Li was sentenced to two years in prison and also fined 5,000 yuan (740 US dollars).

Upon hearing of the verdict, Meng thanked all netizens who had rallied to support her. It was a win for online social activism and more so a win for a woman who decided to stand up against a social ill and seek justice. But the irony is that Li was sentenced for a different charge, which raised many questions unanswered.

The Yitel Manager Liu Hongni addresses the media as video footage of the assault goes viral on social media. /AFP Photo

Questions for 2017

-What does it say about society and its perception towards violence against women when passersby become indifferent onlookers when a woman is being harassed?

-There was uproar on Chinese social media fueling discussions on violence against women and women’s safety in public, as well as private spaces. But do online discussions really translate into offline actions?

(Written by Yao Nian; Edited by Bibek Bhandari; Video edited by Zhou Jinxi; and Room with a View produced by Xu Jiye)

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