The MeToo Movement in China and the Transformation of Feminist Struggle

Journalist Sophia Huang Xueqin, who played a major role in sparking the MeToo movement in China, has been released after completing a five-year prison sentence, while the feminist movement in the country has retreated into private spaces due to state repression and censorship.

Release from Prison and the State of the Movement

Journalist Sophia Huang Xueqin, one of the figures who ignited the MeToo movement in China, has been released from prison after completing her detention period.

Following Huang's release, it is observed that the feminist movement in China has undergone a major transformation during the years she spent in prison.

Censorship and Retreat into Private Spaces

Due to state censorship and strict controls, feminist activities in China have completely moved away from public spaces and are now being carried out in more covert and private settings.

Activists in Beijing gather under the guise of artistic or cultural events, avoiding social media posts.

Digital Amnesia and the New Generation

Researchers note that, as a result of the state's conscious policies, digital native young feminists know very little about the recent early struggles.

While MeToo hashtags and similar expressions are largely blocked on social media, activists resort to creative forms of expression to bypass censorship.

Legal Process and the Government's View

Huang was arrested in Guangzhou in 2021 and convicted in 2024 alongside labor rights activist Wang Jianbing on charges of inciting subversion of state power.

While the Chinese government argues that progress has been made in areas such as healthcare and employment regarding women's rights, activists emphasize that the movement has made sexual harassment a mainstream discussion.