Ye Haiyan
叶海燕
Born (1975-09-25) 25 September 1975
Xinzhou District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
Known forActivism, Women's Rights

Biography

Ye Haiyan (born 1975) is a Chinese gender activist, best known for her action in favor of women, prostitutes, and children against violence and sexual aggression. She exposed the harsh conditions of local brothels, in which sex workers were sexually and physically abused.[1]

Activism

In 2005 Ye created a website to support sex workers. Ye says this is her first encounter with feminism.[1] In the year that followed she became the founder of China Grassroots Women’s Rights Center.[2][3]

In May of 2012, Ye was driven to a wall after accumulating debt, and was denyed NGO as there was no local government to support her. Her determined writing an advocacy gained her the trust of small and more well know Chinese artists like Ai WeiWei. The NGO office Ye was using after support in Guangxi was raided by eight plainclothes men who reportedly attacked her. Haiyan said after the attack that she presumed the men had been sent by the local government.[4][5]

On the 27th of May 2013, she protested against a school director in Hainan accused of raping six female students, aged 12 to 13.[6] This sparked national outrage via Sina Weibo -- a microblogging website that is one of the largest social media platforms in China.[7] She held a poster to tell the principal to have a room with her, implying to have sex with her instead of the youth: "Principal, call me if you want to get a room. Leave the pupils alone."[8]

In June of 2013, the filmmaker Ai Xiaoming worked together with Ye in her campaign to publicize the alleged rape of the 6 high school girls, who were violated by their principal.[9][10] On the 6th of July 2013, Ye alongside her daughter and boyfriend Ling Huobo, were left abandoned on the side of the road by Guangdong secret agents.[7]

In May 2014, she was attacked in her home and arrested for being a whistleblower because she exposed the harsh conditions of local brothels, in which sex workers were sexually and physically abused.[2]

A documentary by the name of Hooligan Sparrow,[11] that features Ye was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2016. The documentary depicts the 2013 campaign protesting the school girl rape incident. In the documentary Ye, alongside other activists in her area, are depicted raising awareness and protesting child rape.[12][13][14]

Family/Personal Life

Ye's activism has exposed the authorities and school officials but has had a negative effect on her daughter because schools are not willing to enroll her.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Dargis, Manohla (2016-07-22). "Review: In 'Hooligan Sparrow,' a Chinese Activist's Hair-Raising Defiance of the State". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  2. 1 2 Yu, Jess Macy (2014-11-04). "Ye Haiyan, Rights Campaigner, Is Detained Over Photo Posted Online". Sinosphere Blog. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  3. ↑ Mooney, Paul (2012-07-31). "China's Sex-Worker Warrior Ye Haiyan Fights for Prostitutes' Rights". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  4. ↑ "Ye Haiyan". Front Line Defenders. 2015-12-17. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  5. ↑ "Ye Haiyan - China Digital Space". chinadigitaltimes.net. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  6. ↑ "Activist Ye Haiyan continues 'dirty battle' for sex workers' rights". South China Morning Post. 2013-06-30. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  7. 1 2 3 Kaiman, Jonathan (2013-07-07). "Chinese women's rights activist Ye Haiyan made homeless say reports". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  8. ↑ Branigan, Tania (2013-06-03). "Chinese police refuse to release activist who campaigned against child abuse". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  9. ↑ "Activist Ai Xiaoming makes naked plea against growing sexual abuse of minors". South China Morning Post. 2013-06-12. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  10. ↑ "La nudité, arme de protestation massive". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  11. ↑ "Hooligan Sparrow | Human Rights Watch Film Festival". ff.hrw.org. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  12. ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (2016-07-22). "Film Review: 'Hooligan Sparrow'". Variety. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  13. ↑ "Hooligan Sparrow | POV". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  14. ↑ Erbland, Kate (2015-12-08). "The Complete 2016 Sundance Film Festival Lineup". IndieWire. Retrieved 2023-10-31.


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