‘It won’t happen to me’: activist tackles prejudice against sexual violence victims in Hong Kong
Angie Ng was raised in a conservative household, so when she became a victim of sexual violence she found it hard to come to terms with the episode. Now, through SlutWalk Hong Kong, she is fighting back against victim blaming
Angie Ng says there are some distasteful phrases in Cantonese – such as dai sei, meaning a person deserved something, and lo lai seu (to bring something upon oneself) – which are frequently being thrown around in daily conversation about victims in all walks of life.
The 39-year-old Canadian, born to parents from Hong Kong, has been a victim of sexual violence, and says she was blamed for it.
“I’ve heard people blame victims of anything, from cancer to homelessness,” says Ng, a feminist activist who is out to change opinions in the city.
But such a tendency towards victim shaming is in no way unique to Hong Kong, she says.
“Not only is it a lack of empathy, I think it makes people feel safer, like they are immune to sexual assault ... as long as they don’t ‘dress like a slut’,” Ng says.
