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Fran Lu

An increasing number of women in China are breaking free from the constraints of traditional values that dictate they should be obedient and devoted to the family. Instead, they are advocating for their rights to equal education and professional opportunities.
This surge of confidence is being prominently displayed on mainland social media, giving the Chinese public a front-row seat to witness a rapidly growing awareness of women’s rights in recent years.
As a result, we are seeing the emergence of more iconic female figures who embody this feminine empowerment.
The Post highlights three of these extraordinary women, celebrated for their courage, independence, and carefree spirit.
Yang Li
Stand-up comedian, Yang Li, 32, went viral in 2020 with her famous talk show punchline that challenged the male psyche: “How can men be so ordinary yet confident?”
The graphic designer turned comedian used this line to describe the men she dated, resonating with many women who shared their “painful” experiences with patronising men on social media.

Yang’s performance opened doors for fellow female comedians, allowing more women to humorously critique men – traditionally prioritised in families and workplaces – offering a release for their frustration over unfair treatment.
Her punchline also sparked the creation of the internet buzzword “puxinnan”, meaning “ordinary but confident men”.
However, Yang sparked controversy as some offended men accused her of “inciting gender antagonism”.
In October, several male netizens boycotted China’s e-commerce platform JD.com after it announced Yang as its shopping festival endorser. The company quickly removed all posts related to her and denied any future collaboration.
For many women, the more men reacted negatively to Yang’s remarks, the more they felt her message was effective and rallied to support her.
“Yang is a role model who shows us that our experiences are shared, that we can express our feelings, and that we deserve a bigger world,” one woman stated on Weibo.
Su Min
In 2020, Su Min, a 56-year-old pensioner from central China’s Henan province, decided to embark on a solo cross-country driving tour.
For the previous 30 years, she had fulfilled the roles of a devoted wife and mother, enduring a husband who often physically and emotionally abused her. In 2019, after stumbling upon an influencer’s video showcasing self-driving tours, she realised, “People could live like this.”

Part of her once contemplated returning to her unbearable husband and family after her journey. However, four years later, confronted by her husband’s sarcastic welcome, she opted for a divorce.
Su reached an agreement to pay him 160,000 yuan (US$22,000) in exchange for her freedom.
She has become a symbol of awakening feminism, with some dubbing her the “Chinese Thelma & Louise”, referencing the iconic 1991 US feminist film featuring two women on an adventurous journey.
As she commenced the fifth year of her journey in September, she wrote a letter to herself that read: “I don’t admire those who were born or married into good families. Only the accomplishments I achieve myself are reliable.”
Zhang Weili
Professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Zhang Weili, 35, from northern China’s Hebei province, has shattered the stereotype that women are inherently weak and delicate.

She rose to fame after becoming Asia’s first female champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2019.
Young women approached Zhang, expressing how much she had inspired them. She felt moved to see her “experiences and hardships help others pursue their own paths.”
Shortly after winning her first UFC title, some men jokingly declared they would not dare date Zhang for fear she might beat them up.
Zhang’s scornful response turned those men into laughing stocks: “We are paid to beat people up. Want to get beaten for free? You wish.”


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Trending in China

3 remarkable Chinese women whose journeys showcase strength, resilience in face of challenges

Three Chinese women – Zhang Weili, left, Yang Li, top right, and Su Min – whose journeys highlight their strength and determination to overcome challenges in diverse arenas. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo

Yang Li’s remark about men being ordinary but confident resonated with many women, reflecting their painful experiences with patronising behaviour. Photo: Weibo

After 30 years of dedicating herself to her abusive husband and caring for the family, Su Min decided to pursue her own happiness. Photo: Weibo

MMA fighter Zhang Weili’s powerful performances have demonstrated that women can compete at the highest levels in sports traditionally dominated by men. Photo: Weibo

Shock as China boy grabs girl in lift, drags her away, is arrested then freed

Social media in China has been shocked by a video of a 14-year-old “bewitched”  boy attacking a seven-year-old girl in a lift. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The teenage boy stood behind the little girl, waiting for the lift door to close before he pounced. Photo: Douyin

Surveillance footage shows the boy grabbing the girl from behind inside the lift. Photo: Douyin

China abductee reconnects with family after 34 years, is quickly estranged again over money

A man in China who was abducted 34 years ago, was reunited with his birth family then promptly fell out with them over money. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/Sohu

Yu was abducted at the age of two by human traffickers and sold to another family. Photo: Weixin

The reunited family took in large amounts of cash from live-streaming their story. Photo: Weixin

A police DNA match saw Yu have an emotional reunion with his biological mother. Photo: Weixin

China KOL adopts pig feed diet costing 40 US cents to save money, raising health concerns

Critics warned that the KOL’s pig-feed-diet stunt may negatively impact her audience, especially if a child tries to imitate her actions. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

Kong said the pig feed was high-protein, low-fat, and natural, better than takeaway, but found it too salty after tasting. Weibo/@上游新聞

A pig feed company employee stressed that the feed, while safe, is indigestible by humans and not meant for people. Photo: AP/Mark Schiefelbein

Chinese man has 1 wife, 4 lovers, all living in same complex, unaware of each other

A married man in China maintained relationships with four women in the same housing complex, one living in the same building as his wife. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

Despite coming from an underprivileged background, Xiaojun created the persona of a “rich second-generation” and won over his wife. Photo: Shutterstock

It’s puzzling how Xiaojun managed to juggle multiple relationships in the same residential complex for four years without being caught. Photo: Shutterstock

‘First-love face’: Chinese singer, actress, Ju Jingyi captivates fans with fairy-like aura

Ju Jingyi celebrated not only for her beauty but also for her captivating performances as a singer, dancer, and actress. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo

Her make-up style and captivating presence have solidified her status as a style icon among female fans across China. Photo: Instagram/@ju_jingyi

In 2014, during an event, Japanese media first referred to Ju as “a female idol seen once in four thousand years”. Photo: Instagram/@ju_jingyi

Ju has long been celebrated for her “first-love face”, and she is regarded as a “template for achieving a natural beauty look”. Photo: Instagram/@ju_jingyi

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Chinese public being treated to front-row seat to rising awareness surrounding women’s rights in recent years


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Chinese public being treated to front-row seat to rising awareness surrounding women’s rights in recent years