China's MeToo movement challenges entrenched abuses
Subject Gender inequality and the MeToo movement in China. Significance Over the past year, numerous women have filed complaints against powerful and influential men in the media, civil society and academia, and, in spite of intense censorship, online discussion of sexual harassment and gender inequality remains vibrant. Women are taking legal action against gender discrimination in the workplace and against employers who dismiss them for getting pregnant. Impacts Relaxation of family planning rules and government encouragement for having children will make employers even more reluctant to hire women. Professions that traditionally employ more women, such as education and healthcare, will attempt to prevent women having a second child. Courts and other institutions of redress are ill-prepared to tackle sexual harassment or gender discrimination in the workplace.