Five Chinese activists were put in jail for over a month for doing something that women's groups in the U.S. do every day. The women, dubbed the "Feminist Five," were simply going to protest how women are treated on the subway.
Li Tingting, Wu Rongrong, Zheng Churan, Wei Tingting, and Wang Man are all in their 20s and 30s, and have used eye-catching stunts to make a point about women's rights in China. According to the New York Times (opens in new tab), they've shaved their heads, barged into men's restrooms, and splashed wedding gowns with red paint, just to name a few tactics.
They were arrested on March 6, two days before International Women's Day, NBC News reports (opens in new tab). They were accused of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" after planning to protest sexual harassment on public transportation using leaflets. They were held in a Beijing detention center, without any charges, for over a month.
The backlash was swift. More than 1,000 people in China signed a petition calling for the women to be released. In the States, Hillary Clinton (opens in new tab), John Kerry (opens in new tab), and UN Ambassador Samantha Power (opens in new tab) made public statements condemning their arrest. And activists online have rallied around the hashtag #freethefive (opens in new tab), posting pictures of themselves wearing masks of the protesters' faces.
They were released on bail Monday, according to the Guardian (opens in new tab), but they could still face charges at a later time. The Chinese government does not allow organized protest, and cracks down on small demonstrations.
Chinese officials didn't comment on their release, but the Christian Science Monitor (opens in new tab) notes that they're about to host a meeting on women's rights (opens in new tab), on the anniversary of the famous Beijing summit on gender equality. So, you know, the optics might not have been the best.
You should also check out:
Chanel Stages Feminist Protest at Paris Fashion Week (opens in new tab)
These Will Be the Biggest Feminist Issues of 2015 (opens in new tab)
Here's Exactly How Much Less Money Women Make Than Men in 2015 (opens in new tab)
-
The Best Rain Boots, According to Fashion EditorsStay dry *and* look cute!
-
Mexico City, A Vibrant Cultural Hot Spot, Is the Perfect Travel Destination
This epicenter of art, history, and food should be on every culture enthusiast's bucket list.
-
Can Light Therapy Get Rid of My Acne?
Blue and red light are where it’s at.
-
35 Ways Women Still Aren't Equal to Men
If anyone tries to tell you otherwise, show them these statistics.
-
Her Love of Basketball Left Her Stateless
One athlete’s quest for freedom from Afghanistan, where the Taliban's restrictive and regressive policies on women's sports put her life in danger.
-
Education for Women and Girls Is Crucial for Climate Justice
In an excerpt from her new book, 'A Bigger Picture,' Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate discusses the impact educated African women and girls can have on solving the climate crisis.
-
It’s Time to End Equal Pay Days and Pass the Equal Rights Amendment
The passage of the ERA is a chance for our country to prove it truly values women.
-
Anita Hill Believes We Can End Gender Violence
Three decades after her landmark testimony in the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings, the esteemed professor and lawyer has a message for leaders: The time is now to prioritize anti-gender violence policies.
-
The Anti-Choice Movement’s Aims Are Out in the Open: End Roe, Rip Away Reproductive Freedom
Today, 228 U.S. senators and representatives explicitly asked the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.
-
Kathryn Garcia Has Spent Her Career Cleaning Up Powerful Men's Messes
The former department of sanitation commissioner has jockeyed her way to the front of a very crowded, very loud, very sexist NYC mayoral field. Will she make history?
-
'Period. End of Sentence.' Invites Us to Reimagine the Menstrual Equity Movement
Fellow menstrual equity author Jennifer Weiss-Wolf dissects Anita Diamant’s new book, offering key takeaways in the fight for period justice.
