In 2023, several prominent cultural figures in mainland China were accused of sexual assault, marking a new wave of the Chinese #MeToo movement. Since its emergence in 2018 following the global diffusion of the U.S.-originated campaign, the movement in China has developed through a series of contested moments. As in other contexts, Chinese #MeToo activism has largely unfolded online, most notably through first-person social media narratives by victims/survivors recounting experiences of sexual violence. In Chinese public discourse, such texts are often labelled “mini compositions” (xiaozuowen), a term frequently used in a derogatory manner to question their evidentiary value and emotional narrative style. At the same time, feminist activists have actively reclaimed the term, emphasising the political significance of these narratives’ literary and affective dimensions. Drawing on discourse analysis of representative “mini compositions” from the 2023 wave, this paper examines how narrative practices are mobilised to contest rape culture and articulate alternative understandings of sexual violence and its enabling cultural conditions. This wave is distinctive in its focus on the cultural sector, as all alleged perpetrators were influential figures within China’s creative industries. By exposing sexual violence behind a celebrated cultural façade, these narratives challenge the moral authority of the cultural field and highlight the systemic normalisation of sexual misconduct. The paper further conceptualizes “mini composition” as an emergent genre within the Chinese #MeToo movement, examining its forms, functions, and limitations, and situating it within contemporary feminist cultural politics in China.

Authors:
Jianing Zhang, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Jade Jianing ZHANG is a PhD student in Humanities and Creative Writing at Hong Kong Baptist University.Her current project focuses on the Chinese College Entrance Exam and everyday exam life in Chinese popular culture.

Connect on Linkedin
https://hk.linkedin.com/in/jianing-zhang-jade

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