NPR

China Is Attempting To Muzzle #MeToo

As the women's rights movement spreads among Chinese universities, it poses a unique challenge to the country's male-dominated, authoritarian regime.
Xiao Meili, 28, is a feminist activist in Guangzhou, China.

When Xiao Meili entered her freshman year at the Communication University of China in 2008, she was inundated with sexist messages that made her feel bad about herself.

"In high school, we were never allowed to wear makeup, then when we started university, all of a sudden, becoming a 'pretty woman' became a very important responsibility," said Xiao. "I tried hard but it was just impossible for me to live up to all these ridiculous standards placed on women."

Ten years later, Xiao has become a prominent feminist activist and one of many Chinese women who have seized on the momentum of the global

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