Women: Driving Force of Protests in China

In late 2022, China witnessed one of the most significant public protests in decades—the White Paper Movement. The immediate catalyst was a fatal fire in a residential building in Xinjiang, in which stringent COVID-19 restrictions reportedly hindered evacuation, resulting in numerous casualties. The government tightly censored any reports on the incident, swiftly deleting related posts and discussions from the internet. People took the streets to mourn the victims, but the gatherings soon evolved into broader protests against government control and censorship. Protesters held up blank sheets of white paper as a symbol of their silenced voices, protesting against the government’s strict pandemic policies and suppression of free expression. The ultimate goal of the protest was to ask for political freedom, government accountability, and an end to censorship.

Although the protests were swiftly suppressed, they revealed deep-seated public dissatisfaction and demonstrated the potential for future mobilization of the populace. One aspect stood out: the prominent role of women. Their leadership was neither incidental nor momentary; it was deeply rooted in the long history of gendered oppression and resistance in China. The participation of women in the White Paper Movement was not merely a reaction to COVID-19 restrictions but a broader challenge to systemic inequality and authoritarian control. Why Were Women at the Forefront? The Zero-COVID policies exacerbated existing gender inequalities, putting more pressure on women. During prolonged lockdowns, they often took on the majority of unpaid household work, sometimes at the expense of their careers. Female-dominated industries, such as service and retail, faced higher job losses, leaving many women economically vulnerable. Additionally, domestic violence surged during lockdowns, with UN Women warning of a “shadow pandemic,” as isolation exacerbated abusive situations and limited access to support services (UN Women). The White Paper Movement, therefore,  gave women a forum to speak out not only against the Zero-COVID policies, but also against broader issues like economic inequality and gender-based violence.

Women’s participation in the White Paper Movement must be understood in the context of ongoing feminist resistance in China. As Leta Hong Fincher pointed out in Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China, the government has systematically suppressed feminist activism, from the arrest of the Feminist Five in 2015 to the censorship of the #MeToo movement. Feminist activism, however, has persisted underground, finding new ways to adapt and resist.

During the White Paper protests, women protesters invoked feminist symbols, such as singing the song “Brave Heart” in Chengdu, a song now emblematic of women’s resistance to oppression. This suggests that the movement was not only a call for an end to Zero-COVID policies, but also an extension of the fight for gender equality and social justice.

Historically, women have been perceived as less of a political threat in China, which may have allowed them to organize protests with less initial scrutiny. Yet this underestimation did not protect them from repercussions. Their visible role in the protests challenged the state’s perception of women’s political dissent and demonstrated that women were not passive actors in social movements. 

As a result, many women who participated in the movement were later detained, harassed, or pressured into silence (Amnesty International). Some of them faced severe retaliation, including pressure to drop out of university, social media bans, and police harassment. The Chinese government responded by reinforcing traditional gender roles, promoting policies such as the three-child policy and re-emphasizing the concept of the “virtuous wife and good mother.” These measures signal a broader attempt to push women out of public activism and back into domestic roles.

Despite ongoing suppression, women’s resistance in China is unlikely to fade; instead, it is evolving in new and creative ways. One key strategy is leveraging social media to bypass censorship and raise international awareness. Activists are increasingly turning to overseas platforms such as X and Instagram to share their experiences, ensuring their voices reach beyond China’s Great Firewall. This global visibility not only amplifies their struggles, but also garners support from the international community.

Rather than advocating for gender equality in isolation, Chinese feminists are also connecting their cause to broader social movements. By framing women’s rights as part of a larger struggle for civil rights and freedom, they integrate their activism into broader socio-political discourse, attracting more allies. For instance, they are building transnational solidarity by learning from and collaborating with global feminist movements, such as Iranian women’s protests against mandatory hijabs. Through these international alliances, they can exchange strategies, gain inspiration, and strengthen their fight for gender equality.

The White Paper Movement may not have led to systemic political change, but it demonstrated the resilience and leadership of women in China’s political activism. Their participation was not an anomaly; it was a culmination of accumulated frustration and resistance against oppression. From past feminist resistance to potential future activism, women have consistently played a key role in challenging authoritarian control in China. While state repression remains severe, history has shown that even suppressed movements can plant the seeds for future change. In the digital age, women will continue their fight by using global networks and online activism to push for gender equality and political freedom.