Xiao Meili

Xiao Meili (born 1989) is a Chinese women's rights activist, feminist, writer, and influencer. Her article China's Feminist Awakening has appeared in the New York Times[1]. She resided in Beijing, China in 2015.[2]

Xiao Meili
Born1989
Sichuan, China
NationalityChinese
EducationCommunication University of China
OccupationWomen's rights activist

Activism

Xiao Meili's Feminist Walk

Some of Xiao's most notable campaigns include her 2,000 km walk from Beijing to Guangzhou to raise awareness of sexual abuse in 2014, and organizing a competition on Sina Weibo for the best photo of a woman's unshaven armpit to challenge stereotypical views of female beauty in 2015.[3] [4] Xiao has stated that her activism work is funded from online personal donations.[5] [6]

"Blood Brides" or "Bloody Wedding Dress"

Xiao is also known for creating the "bloody wedding dress" meme in China to protest domestic violence in 2012, and has been featured in a Chinese adaptation of The Vagina Monologues.[7] Xiao also spoke out against the Chinese government's arrest of five women's rights activists just days before International Women's Day in 2015.[8] This group of women—Li Tingting (李婷婷), Wei Tingting (韦婷婷), Zheng Churan (郑楚然), Wu Rongrong (武嵘嵘), and Wang Man (王曼)—are commonly known as the "Feminist Five."[9]

Women's Armpit Hair Competition

In June 2015, Xiao started a Women's Armpit Hair Photo Contest on Weibo, China's social media[10]. Her goal of the photo contest was to spark debate about gender inequality[11] and beauty stereotypes[12].

In early 2018, Xiao participated in activism to combat sexual harassment faced by women using public transportation.[13]

Xiao cites Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex as a strong influence in shaping her activist work.

Biography

Xiao was born in the Sichuan Province in 1989.[2] She attended the Communication University of China in Beijing. Before her activism work, Xiao previously ran an online store selling clothes on Taobao.com., one of China's online trading platforms.[5]

References
  1. Meili, Xiao (2015-05-13). "Opinion | China's Feminist Awakening". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  2. Changsha, Emily Rauhala /. "In China, a Young Feminist Battles Sexual Violence Step by Step". TIME.com. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  3. Tatlow, Vanessa Piao; Didi Kirsten (9 June 2015). "In Women's Rights Battle, a Call to Underarms". Sinosphere Blog. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  4. Phillips, Tom (2015-06-10). "Chinese feminists hold armpit hair photo contest". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  5. "Xiao Meili: A Young Feminist's Journey - The blog of Women_of_China - Chinadaily Forum". blog.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  6. Liao, Shannon (9 February 2018). "China's feminist movement braves a government crackdown on #MeToo". The Verge. Verge. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  7. "Xiao Meili | The Bookworm Literary Festival". bookwormfestival.com. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  8. Meili, Xiao (2015-05-13). "China's Feminist Awakening". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  9. "The Inspirational Backstory of China's 'Feminist Five'". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2018-03-06.
  10. Cleveland, Lauriel. "Armpit hair is a growing trend for women". CNN. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  11. Wilfred Chan; Shen Lu. "Chinese feminists show off armpit hair in photo contest". CNN. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  12. "Chinese feminists hold armpit hair photo contest". the Guardian. 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  13. Marchi, Giulia (2018-03-04). "China's Women-Only Subway Cars, Where Men Rush In". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-06.
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