Did #METOO advance the feminist movement in China? A typical Chinese case study of sexual harassment. Impact of power relations and morality

The #METOO campaign sparked worldwide attention to the issue of sexual harassment in 2017. Shortly afterward, sexual harassment cases also followed in Chinese universities. This study uses framing theory and content analysis, analyzing typical case news reports after the rise of the #METOO movement. Firstly, the study showed that Chinese news media mostly reported with social frame and individual frame, and seldom used the gender discrimination frame. Secondly, Although Chinese media actively promoted the progress and solution of sexual harassment cases, they mainly solved the problem from the perspective of power relations and failed to continue to dig into the problem of sexism. However, the way of reporting from the perspective of power relations may further influence the teachers’ image in China and even bring negative stereotypes.