Disturbing instances of domestic violence are prompting young individuals in China to reconsider the institution of marriage.
Recently, a wave of shocking domestic violence cases has shaken China. A brutal daylight killing, captured on video, spread widely on social media. This incident didn’t just ignite public outrage; it also sparked a renewed debate among young people about the risks associated with marriage.
The Shandong Incident
A chilling incident from the eastern province of Shandong surfaced on a Monday when an onlooker posted a video online. The video revealed a man, who police later identified as the woman’s husband, driving over her repeatedly. He even left his car several times to verify if she was still alive before resuming his attack. By Tuesday evening, Dongying city police had arrested a 37-year-old man, who they say fatally struck and crushed his 38-year-old wife amid “family disputes”. Authorities are still investigating the case. By Wednesday morning, the incident had escalated to the top of the discussion list on Weibo, China’s equivalent to Twitter, amassing 300 million views.
Public Reaction and Previous Cases
The public was horrified by the level of cruelty displayed in the attack. This incident follows two other high-profile domestic violence and homicide cases involving female victims that have also caught public attention. In the previous month, a man in the southern province of Guangdong stabbed his wife and her sister-in-law to death. The wife had reportedly been a victim of years of domestic violence and was contemplating divorce, according to her family’s statement to The Paper, a state media outlet.
Domestic Violence: A ‘Family Affair’
Historically, domestic violence in China has been viewed as a private family matter. After two decades of advocacy by women’s rights activists, China finally implemented its anti-domestic violence law in 2016. This law, for the first time, defines domestic violence, encompassing both physical and psychological violence. However, it does not address sexual abuse such as marital rape. It empowers courts to issue protection orders for victims and police to issue written warnings against abusers.
Despite the law’s introduction, experts argue its enforcement is often inconsistent. They believe it’s largely ineffective. This is partly due to China’s deep-rooted patriarchal culture. There are also enduring obstacles within the judicial system. Both these factors significantly impact the perception of marriage. Feng, a feminist scholar, has made some observations. She noted that in many areas, police still treat domestic violence as a family matter. This is true even when it occurs within marriage. She further added that violence in marital relationships is often downplayed. It’s not treated with the same seriousness as violence between strangers. This leads to a lenient approach by both the police and courts.
Final Thoughts
In a nuthsell, the recent surge in high-profile domestic violence cases in China has sparked public outrage and reignited debates about the institution of marriage. Despite the introduction of the anti-domestic violence law, its enforcement remains inconsistent and often ineffective due to cultural and judicial barriers. This highlights the urgent need for more effective measures to protect victims and prevent such tragedies.
