Cases of vulnerable women forced into marriages have galvanized a new generation of feminists in China. These activists work in the shadows to find and support women they believe are being failed by authorities.
Undercover Rescue Missions
Last summer, Xiaocao, a softly spoken woman in her 40s, received a tip-off that in Luliang, a small city in China's Shanxi province, vulnerable women were being forced into marriages. Along with another volunteer, she traveled from Beijing to investigate. After hours of travel by train and rental car, they found a woman with learning disabilities who was "married" to two brothers. The woman declined assistance, but her case is one of thousands activists pursue.
The 'Chained Woman' Incident
The trafficking and exploitation of women in China gained global attention in 2022 after a case involving a woman chained by the neck in a filthy shed. The woman, later named Xiao Huamei, had eight children with the man who tied her up. The case went viral and inspired a new type of feminism operating in the shadows.
The Chinese government says tackling trafficking is a priority, but activists say plans lack transparency. In 2021, the government launched a 10-year anti-trafficking plan. In April 2024, the supreme people's court claimed trafficking crimes declined nearly 80% since 2012. However, China has reduced the number of legal judgments available online, making it hard to verify claims. Traditional social norms mean many cases go unreported.
Rising Activism Despite Crackdowns
Since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, he has cracked down on civil society, including organizations fighting sexual harassment and domestic violence. Despite this, new groups of women are taking action. Since Xiao's case, more privileged women speak up for rural women with disabilities. "Anti-marriage, anti-childbirth" attitudes among urban women have increased sensitivity to forced marriages in rural areas.
Celine Liao, a PhD candidate at the University of Washington, said that before 2022, trafficking was not central to mainstream feminist discourse. Now, there is stronger public pressure to examine trafficking in cases.
Another Case: Guangxi
In February 2024, news spread of a man in Guangxi with a wife who had learning disabilities and nine children. Legal blogger Li Yuchen questioned how a woman with intellectual disabilities could voluntarily have nine children. The article was soon censored.
An Indictment of Society
Women have responded in various ways. Some, like Xiaocao, physically investigate cases. Others monitor anti-trafficking efforts or lobby internationally. Nearly all operate under anonymity due to fear of retribution. An analysis by Renmin University found that of over 1,200 female trafficking victims in judicial files (2017-2020), 20% had a physical or mental disability. Many cases go unreported.
In February, Free Nora, a media collective launched after Xiao's case, published an article marking the fourth anniversary, describing it as "an indictment of the society and history we live in." It concluded progress was insufficient. The article and Free Nora's WeChat account were later deleted.
Six people, including the husband, were convicted in Xiao's case. Authorities launched a special operation uncovering over 1,000 missing women and children. But deeper investigations have been quashed. Chinese law criminalizes buying and selling women but does not cover forced marriages. The government did not respond to a comment request.
For now, activists like Xiaocao help on a case-by-case basis. She is studying to be a lawyer to better advocate for women and children. "I don't think it's realistic to rely on the authorities to crack down on this," she says.
