Xiaowen Liang Explained

Xiaowen Liang
Birth Place:	China
Nationality:	Chinese
Occupation:	Lawyer Activist

Xiaowen Liang (born 1992)^[1] is a Chinese feminist activist, organizer, and lawyer.^{[2] [3]} She is part of the

1. MeToo (Mi Tu) movement

in China.^{[4] [5]}

Early life and education

Liang was born in China.

In 2012, Liang received a LL.B. from South China University of Technology in China.^{[6] [7]}

In 2017, Liang received an LL.M in international law from Fordham University School of Law.^[8]

Career

While in university in China, Liang co-founded an organization for lesbian feminists, but encountered many obstacles to engagement.^[9] She protested differential treatment of women to men in regards to admission polities. She also lobbied for more public restroom facilities for women. In 2012, Liang was an organizer who used performance art as a method of protest. Liang and other activists did a street demonstration where they protested by doing a performance on occupying men's restrooms. As part of these protests, she shaved her head.^[10] As a result of her activism, and specifically holding a seminar on women's rights,^[11] she was questioned by the police.

In 2016, Liang moved to the United States. She said she felt pressure to stop activism. The police came to her parents' house, as did her parents' employer.

In the United States, Liang continues to advocate for women's rights and fight against sexual harassment and domestic violence – and bring visibility to the women's movement in China.

Liang is part of the ＃MeToo movement and conducts protests. She founded a grassroots feminist non-governmental organization (NGO) to combat inequality.

Liang is a practicing attorney in New York City.

Selected works and publications

• Flynn. Hailey K.. ElDabh. Christine. Liang. Xiaowen (researched and co-authored by). Petrovic. Jelena (researched and co-authored by). Kashkooli. Fahimeh Mohammadi (researched and co-authored by). Flynn. Hailey K.. Mgbako. Chi Adanna. Unjust and Untenable: Why D.C. Must Remove Criminal Penalties for Drug and Paraphernalia Possession. HIPS Report. January 2018. Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS), Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School. New York, NY.

Notes and References

1. News: Spierings. Lauren. 'Mi Tu' in China. The Spectator. University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. 6 May 2019.
2. News: Fung. Katherine. The Chinese feminists fighting patriarchy in China from abroad. The World from PRX. 16 May 2019. en.
3. News: Economy. Liz. Vogelstein. Rachel. Hong Fincher. Leta. Pin. Lu. Xiaowen. Liang. Feminist Voices in China: From #MeToo to Censorship. Council on Foreign Relations. 26 July 2018.
4. News: Morgan. Robin. Xiaowen. Liang. Women's Media Center Live with Robin Morgan: WMC Live #251: Liang Xiaowen. (Original Airdate 6/10/2018). Women's Media Center Live with Robin Morgan. 10 June 2018. en. starts at 17:00.
5. News: Morgan. Robin. Xiaowen. Liang (transcribed by). Wang. D.D. (edited by). Shen. Winnie (edited by). Liang Xiaowen: Chinese Feminist Activist on #MeTooInChina. Chinese Feminist Collective. 6 March 2019. en.
6. Web site: Our Team: Xiaowen Liang, Esq.. Geng & Associates, P.C.. 17 May 2020.
7. Fan. Jiayang. China's #MeToo Moment. The New Yorker. 1 February 2018. en.
8. News: Lynch. Elizabeth M.. NYC Event – Challenging Authoritarianism through Feminist Activism: Insights From China. China Law & Policy. 7 December 2017.
9. News: Ding. Julia. Under Authoritarian Rule: Feminist and LGBTQ Activism in China. The Politic. 21 February 2017.
10. News: Lu. Shen. Cao. Mengwen. Thwarted at Home, Can China's Feminists Rebuild a Movement Abroad? . ChinaFile, Center on U.S.-China Relations . Asia Society . 28 August 2019.
11. News: Minhaj. Hasan. Liang. Xiaowen. Saudi Arabia + Censorship In China. Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj. Netflix. 10 February 2019. starts at 16:00.