A million Deng Yujiaos

Badong is a county in the western part of Hubei, dissected from west to east by two of the three gorges. It is rich in history, quite poor in land quality and resources, and undergoing a massive change due to the gigantic Three Gorges Dam that flooded part of the county.

It was here at the county seat, a town of about 50,000 people resting on steep slopes above the Yangze, that a young waitress was sexually attacked on the night of May 10th last year. She defended herself from the rapist, who happened to be a communist party official, stabbing him to death in the course of their struggle. The woman’s name was Deng Yujiao, a name that is now a symbol to many in China. She was, however, a real woman working at a real hotel in this very real town. That hotel no longer exists and Deng Yujiao left Badong, has reportedly changed her name and hopefully put this terrible trauma behind her. There are many other Dengs, and these are the stories of just two of them, who were never brave or desperate enough to stab anyone. There is nothing special about them, nothing unusual about their stories: just the kind of things that happen everyday in Badong – and everywhere else. Obviously, the names used here are not their real names.

Deng Yufei is 20 years old and has been working at a hotel in Badong for almost two years, cleaning rooms and making 700 yuan a month. She is originally from a village that was relocated because of the Three Gorges Dam. “Before, my parents could make a living from the crops they were growing, but now they depend on my help,” she explains. So at about seventeen she left her home and moved to Badong town, working first as a waitress and then as a maid in this hotel. She admires Deng Yujiao. “She was in a very difficult situation and she was very brave. I don’t know what I would do if it happened to me, I have been lucky so far.”

It’s an interesting use of the term. She goes on to describe her fabulous luck. “I haven’t been attacked, ever. Of course, guests try to touch me sometimes. The other day a businessman who stayed in that room there came behind me when I was cleaning the bathroom. He hugged me and put his hands under my shirt, but I got away. The first time it happened I told my supervisor and she gave me some advice how to avoid men like this: Try to get to cleaning the room when they’re not in, do everything real fast, don’t look at them, and leave quickly if they try to touch you. She also said that if I really get trapped, I should try and satisfy the man with a hand job. It’s safer this way. I only had to do that once. I am luckier than other girls.”

One of the other girls is Deng Yulan, who works in the same hotel. A few months ago, long after Deng Yujiao was released and left Badong, Deng Yulan was called to bring some food and drinks to a room one night. The guests were two men from another province, she doesn’t know from where exactly. When she put the tray down one of them ordered her to come nearer, saying he wanted “a special.” She turned to leave the room but he stopped her. “I don’t know what happened next. I only remember hands touching me. They were drunk and they couldn’t stop laughing. They shouted at me, “He cha, he cha” (drink tea), they slapped my face with their things. Then I was on the other side of the door. My face was dirty but I still had clothes on, and they threw a wad of bills on the floor near me. There was 1000 Yuan there. I sent the money to my mom and told her I got a bonus because we had to work extra hours. She was very happy: the money was used to pay my brother’s school fees. I haven’t told anyone except my friend (the other hotel worker). My mom would have never understood this. The supervisor said before to come to her if something happens so she can give you a (morning after) pill or help otherwise, but I didn’t need the pill and the people left town the next day, so what can be done? I am not Deng Yujiao.” She now takes classes in English and typing in her spare time, hoping to land a higher paying job as a secretary.

[In June 2009, students staged a protest in Beijing with signs reading, "Anyone could become Deng Yujiao."]

*Rachel’s self-introduction:

I came to China for three months, with a plan to see a bit of Tibet and Sichuan and to get a taste of rural life in this country before I settled down back home with a job at a law firm. Nearly eight years later, I am still in China, and still as fascinated with its rural areas.

After working as a correspondent in Beijing for two years, in July 2010 I have embarked on what I hope will be a six month journey through the Chinese countryside — listening, watching and telling stories from farmers’ lives. Much has been and is still being written about the “Chinese miracle” (or dystopia, depends on your point of view) and this will only be my added two cents. China, it is often said, has more than 400 million Internet users and hundreds of millions of new urban residents, who are changing the face of the country. It is less often noted that China also has another billion people who have not yet been fully included in these new economic and social changes. The following, if you will, are some fragments from the story of the other billion.

My personal blog is Bendilaowai.

© Sophie Beach for China Digital Times (CDT), 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Deng Yujiao, Hubei, other billion, sexual harassment, women
Download Tools to Circumvent the Great Firewall

A government notice said a police investigation found that two officials, Huang Dezhi and Deng Guida, from a township investment office, accosted Ms. Deng [Yujiao] in the lounge of the Fantasy City bathhouse and demanded “special services,” a euphemism for sex. When she refused, they pushed her around and insulted her. Ms. Deng picked up a knife, stabbed Mr. Deng to death and injured Mr. Huang, according to the notice, issued on Sunday by the Badong county government in central Hubei province.

Ms. Deng then called a police emergency number using her mobile phone and gave herself up. She initially was arrested on suspicion of murder. However, the notice said police believed it was a case of “excessive self-defense.” Her lawyers have said she was defending herself from a rape attack.

Mr. Huang has been fired from his position as vice director of the investment office and expelled from the Communist Party. He is now under detention. A third official, Deng Zhongjia, who was with the other two at the time but is not alleged to have committed any crime, has also been fired, the notice said. The three Dengs are unrelated.

Roland Soong of ESWN comments on a related Xinhua report:

This is the only piece of news on Deng Yujiao that is allowed to be published. Comments are not being allowed. KDnet briefly ran a poll as to whether the outcome was satisfactory or not, but quickly killed it. Probably that is because the people are not satisfied. Why is that? First, Huang Dezhi is only “being detained in connection with public order offences” instead of “criminal offences such as attempted rape and sexual battery.” The latter are based upon lawyer Xia Lin’s public statement that Deng Yujiao told him that Huang Dezhi had pulled down her trousers, yanked down her panties and fondled her. However, Deng did not say that Huang “raped her.” It was an attempted rape and it was sexual battery. To write that “she claimed that Huang raped her” is to say that she lied. That is why people are not satisfied, but they have no where to express their misgivings.

The big question is, Will the prosecutor really dare to charge Deng Yujiao with “using excessive force”? Or will they just let this matter fade from public memory [but do] nothing?

Read also Ai Weiwei’s take on the penalty, translated by ChinaGeeks.

© Paulina Hartono for China Digital Times (CDT), 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Deng Yujiao, party discipline, sexual harassment
Download Tools to Circumvent the Great Firewall

Deng Guida then continued to curse: “What do you mean about working here or upstairs? Aren’t you all the same? You are a prostitute but you still want to have a good reputation.” He also said: “Don’t you want money? You have never seen any money! How much money do you want? Just say so. Would you believe if I am going to beat you to death with money today” He took out a wad of money and used it to slap Deng Yujiao in the face and shoulder. At each slap, Deng Yujiao took one step backwards until she was at the edge of the sofa. She said: “Yes, I have never seen money. If you have the guts, you can beat me to death.” Deng Guida said: “Indeed I’ll beat you to death with money. I am going to summon a truckload of money and squash you to death.”

The captain once again advised to leave. Deng Yujiao wanted to leave but she was dragged back. Deng Guida said: “You want to run away? Where are you going to run to?” Deng Yujiao tried once more to leave but she was dragged again. Deng Yujiao took out a fruit knife from her pocketbook and held both hands behind her bad. Deng Guida pushed Deng Yujiao on the chest until she fell down onto the sofa. When Deng Yujiao could not get up, she started kicking with both her feet.

Then Huang Dezhi and Deng Guida both rushed at her. Deng Yujiao took the knife and stabbed in front of her. Deng Guida tried to grab her with both arms. Since Deng Guida was right in front of her, she stabbed her multiple times. Deng Guida then grabbed his stomach, walked towards the door and fell down on the floor. Deng Yujiao saw a knife wound on Deng Guida’s neck, so she called 110 (police). 110 told her to call the Yeshanguan town police station. Deng Yujiao replied: “Someone is dying over at Xiongfeng. Please hurry over.” Then she called her mother and asked her to come over immeidately.

In Beijing, college students staged a work of performance art to express support for Deng Yujiao. The signs around the bound woman read, “Anyone Could Become a Deng Yujiao.”

It has also been reported that 42 female college students have written a statement (???) in response to Deng’s case calling on all of society to protect and respect women’s legal rights and human dignity.

© Sophie Beach for China Digital Times (CDT), 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Deng Yujiao, sexual harassment, women's rights
Download Tools to Circumvent the Great Firewall

Using a mobile phone to send “yellow [pornographic] material” can possibly constitute as sexual harassment now. Yesterday morning, in Beijing new additions were made to the law for the Protection of Women’s Rights; now language, letters, pictures, electronic information, and physical conduct can all be cause for sexual harassment towards women. This is the first time that Beijing has defined the situations in which sexual harassment can happen in Beijing.

It is understood that “electronic information” basically means text messaging. The specific dividing line [of what is considered sexual harassment] will be decided during real situations. The director of the Law Department in Beijing Zhou Jidong (周继东) said that these actions were taken so that women will have a better idea of self-protection.

Also added into the draft was the responsibility of the work place in preventing sexual harassment.

© Sophie Beach for China Digital Times (CDT), 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: sexual harassment, women's rights
Download Tools to Circumvent the Great Firewall

On the evening of October 29, 2008, a big-bellied man around 50-years-old asked an 11-year-old little girl for directions to the restroom. After the girl kindly told him, he claimed he still was not clear, and asked her to lead the way for him. Then, he grabbed her neck and tried to force her into the men’s restroom.

Below is the surveillance video recording from the Plum Garden Seafood Restaurant in Shenzhen City Nanshan District:

In the video:

1. The young girl is seen leading the man with the big belly wearing a white shirt to the restroom.
2. Awhile later, the girl is seen running the other direction back into the restaurant.
3. She returns with her parents and brother to find the man and talk to the restaurant manager.
4. The mother and children first return to their dining room.
5. An argument occurs between the man and the girl’s father while the wait staff look on.

At first, the parents found the woman who was dining with the man to ask him where he is. The woman (also wearing white) claimed not to know anything and tried to leave. Then the over 50-year-old man with the big belly wearing a white shirt came out of the toilet. To everyone’s surprise, he said:

“I did it, so what? How much money do you want, give me a price. I will pay it!”

Arrogantly pushing and pointing at the girl’s father, he also said:

“Do you know who I am? I was sent here by the Beijing Ministry of Communications, my level is the same as your mayor. So what if I pinched a little child’s neck? Who the fuck are you people to me?! You dare fuck with me? Just watch how I am going to deal with you.”

Soon after the surveillance video clips were released online, netizens identified the person in the video and posted his photos in chatrooms and forums. Mr. Lin is currently under investigation by the Shenzhen police.

The following photos are from Tianshandaolang’s blog:

© Xiao Qiang for China Digital Times (CDT), 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: human flesh search engines, Lin Jiaxiang, sexual harassment
Download Tools to Circumvent the Great Firewall

A human resources manager has become the first Chinese man to be found guilty of sexual harassment, in a case that highlights the continuing struggle towards equality for women in China.

Liu Lun was accused of inviting one of his women staff, Chen Dan, into his office to discuss work matters but then told her that he wanted to become her boyfriend. When the woman turned him down, he held her by the neck and kissed her.“Miss Chen screamed out and fought back. Colleagues next door heard her and called the police,” state media said.

Liu, who works for a company in southwestern China, was found guilty of using force to act indecently towards a woman, and ordered to serve time in jail. It was the first time that a law enacted in 2005 had been used successfully to prosecute a suspected offender.

© Liu Yong for China Digital Times (CDT), 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: sexual harassment, women's rights
Download Tools to Circumvent the Great Firewall

A risque joke, a suggestive text message, a naughty email. Any one of these could end up landing an amorous male in east China’s Zhejiang Province in court if the object of his affections takes offence.

The Zhejiang provincial legislative body on Thursday passed an amendment to its implementation of the country’s law to protect women’s rights, stipulating that, from September 1, a woman can file a sexual harassment lawsuit against a man if he oversteps the line in conversation or during online chat or via text message. Those who are found guilty of sexual harassment of women will be punished by public security departments or even held criminally responsible, according to the new regulation. [Full Text]

© Kate Zhao for China Digital Times (CDT), 2007. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: lawsuit, sexual harassment, Zhejiang
Download Tools to Circumvent the Great Firewall

At first, Sarah Cheng didn’t realize that she had been sexually harassed. Then the woman next to her on the bus told her that the man who’d just brushed up against her had done it intentionally.

“That was a watershed moment for me,” says the young Shanghai native, who prefers to go by an English name. “After that, I now see inappropriate behavior that is often directed towards women in the city.”

Aware that many of the city’s female residents have been victims of unwanted sexual advances, Shanghai has become the first city in China to define what constitutes sexual harassment. [Full Text]

© Liu Yong for China Digital Times (CDT), 2007. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: sexual harassment, Shanghai, women's rights
Download Tools to Circumvent the Great Firewall

A group of women in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu are proving the old adage that goes ‘hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.’

Under the banner Women’s Rights Protection Investigation Centre (WRPIC), a growing team of women are cruising the streets of the Sichuan capital, on the hunt for wife-beaters and cheaters.

The group was founded by 38-year-old divorcee Yan Guoqiong, who first suspected and through her own investigation confirmed her then-husband was being unfaithful just three months after their marriage in 1994.

Thanks to Hong Kong Entertainment Review

© Max Woodworth for China Digital Times (CDT), 2005. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: domestic violence, marriage, sexual harassment, women's rights
Download Tools to Circumvent the Great Firewall

Like most women in similar circumstances in China, Wen was at first too afraid to speak up in fear of risking her reputation, dishonouring her family and losing her job.

“Most people don’t understand. Even my mother thinks: why does it happen only to you?” she said. “I became very depressed and soon started suffering from neurasthenia (mental fatigue).”

But last Sunday saw a glimmer of hope for Wen and thousands like her with the government introducing China’s first laws governing sexual harassment.

© Sophie Beach for China Digital Times (CDT), 2005. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: sexual harassment, women's rights
Download Tools to Circumvent the Great Firewall