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‘A bed of nails’: China’s #MeToo accusers crushed by burden of proof and counterclaims

  • Two Chinese women who claimed they were violated by powerful men were then sued by their alleged assailants for defamation
  • Activist says Beijing’s crackdown on feminists in recent years, coupled with male-dominated power, may push more women to fight back against oppression

Reading Time:8 minutes
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Illustration: Perry Tse

At a classroom screening of North Country at a US university in October, students were startled to find their Chinese-born teacher sobbing uncontrollably.

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Little did they know that the film – based on the woman who won the first class-action sexual harassment lawsuit in the United States – had struck a personal chord with He Qian, 33, a University of Oklahoma faculty member.

Like the lead character Josey Aimes, He Qian had accused a man of sexual harassment and gone to court for it. But, unlike Aimes, she was the one sued – and she lost.

In January last year, a Chinese court ruled that He’s allegations – that prominent journalist and philanthropist Deng Fei forcibly kissed and groped her – “lacked factual evidence and legal basis”. She and a friend who helped share her story online were ordered to pay Deng 11,712 yuan (US$1,840) in legal fees and damages for defamation.

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Chinese #MeToo pioneer takes prominent TV host to court over alleged sexual harassment

Chinese #MeToo pioneer takes prominent TV host to court over alleged sexual harassment
The same year, another high-profile sexual harassment case – filed by former CCTV intern Zhou Xiaoxuan against TV host Zhu Jun – was rejected after the Beijing court ruled the evidence submitted was not sufficient to prove the claim.
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Like He, 28-year-old Zhou was also sued by the man she had accused of sexual harassment. That case is still pending.

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