"You should not wear skirt anymore”: Reasons behind the underreported rape rates in China

Author: Eleanor Manhong Li, Department of Criminology, Sociology, and Social Policy, Loughborough University, UK

1. The prevalence of sexual violence in China

For every reported sexual crime in China, there are likely to be a further seven that go unreported (Chen, 2021). When comparing data from the government statistic and scholar paper, significant disparities can be found. For example, a recent government statistic showed that, in 2022, the total number of rape cases recorded in China was 39,693 (National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2023) – at face value a low number given the total population of China now exceeds 1.4 billion. Despite China’s technological advancements and tough on crime approach, these figures may be largely underestimated. However, an academic study conducted in the same year indicated that, among 898 participants from 29 provinces in mainland China, 55.5% of participants reported that they had experienced sexual victimisation in adulthood, with 52.5% of men and 57.9% of women reporting having experienced sexual victimisation at least once since the age of 18 (Shi & Zheng, 2022). Taken together, scholarly data may be higher than official statistics indicate. Such discrepancies revealed a reality that victims of sexual violence in China may be reluctant to report their misfortunes law enforcement. This can be attributed to several reasons.

2. Low reporting rates and rape myths in China

Research indicates that about 28% of female victims never asked for help after the incident, and only 15% of them told their family members. Of those that sought help, 30% received no support, and 43% received equivocal responses (International Centre for Women’s Studies at China Women’s University, 2013). The reluctance of the victim is often attributed to a desire to protect one’s “face” (mianzi), a unique Chinese concept that pertains to a person’s social status and prestige by others (Xue & Lin, 2020). Such beliefs are mainly influenced by the deeply rooted Confucian culture within the Chinese society, which traditionally prohibits public discussion of sexual matters and deems such behaviour as unmannerly and unnoble (Yu, 2021). Consequently, rape has become a taboo topic in Chinese society. 
 

“You shouldn’t wear skirt anymore” would be a scandal, others would only criticise my dad for his lack of education. In that place of backward thinking, the word sex is never mentioned”. “They hid their embarrassment and anger for two seconds, then pretended they didn’t hear anything”. (Pengpai News, 2020).   

Additionally, traditional beliefs toward sexual violence in China have reinforced victim-blaming attitudes and beliefs within society, creating obstacles for reported cases progression through the legal system. These beliefs are found not only among the public but law enforcement personnel subscribing to preconceived notions of sexual violence and its victims. Some believe that such incidents are a moral rather than a legal issue (Chen, 2021). Those who hold such beliefs often judge the victim’s lifestyle and tolerate the perpetrator’s behaviours. If the accuser is deemed to have a so-called “indecent” lifestyle, the accuser is often considered an “imperfect victim” serving as a reason to doubt their allegation (Luo, 2000; Xue & Lin, 2022; Xue et al., 2019). Scholars have defined these detrimental beliefs and attitudes toward sexual violence as “rape myths”, or false beliefs that serve to justify sexually aggressive behaviours and blame victims for their experience (Gerger, Kley, Bohner, & Siebler, 2007). The prevalence of rape myths within the society and the criminal justice system can result in lamentable outcomes for a female victim who is brave enough to defend her own dignity.

3. What next for understanding rape and rape myths in China?

To enhance education on rape myths in China and promote understandings of sexual violence for law enforcement agencies and the general public, as well as encourage rape reporting, there is an urgent need for a tailored intervention program to address Chinese-specific rape myths. Not least because rape myths reflect individuals’ attitudes toward cultures and tend to vary across different countries (Nayak et al., 2003; Pedersen & Stromwall, 2013). Thus, the impact of specific aspects of Chinese culture on attributions of blame in rape cases are crucial for understanding the extent of the problem in this region, as well as cross-cultural variation in such victim blame attribution between China and the Western world. Understanding the unique features of Chinese culture which contribute to rape mythology and sexual violence perpetration, alongside such cross-cultural comparisons, will ensure a comprehensive understanding of the phenomena and thus solutions can be explored. 

Undoubtedly, sexual violence is a prevailing issue in China. The disparities of its prevalence between official and research statistics conveys the hidden issues behind the underreported rate in China, which also reveals the widespread victim-blaming beliefs and attitudes from the public and professional workers. Such destructive attitudes and beliefs need to be educated and diminished in order to prevent secondary victimisation, as well as encourage victims to seek justice. Nevertheless, it is a good sign that certain media outlets and scholars are actively engaging with this issue, demonstrating a willingness to advocate for and contribute to further explorations.