When Sex Becomes a Political Tool Interview with Professor He Shining: Sexual violence is to destroy our will with shame

Text: Womany Jiaqi

Sexual violence at the scene of the social movement is never easy to talk about. On August 28, a #Protest too rally was held in Hong Kong, and thousands of people took to the streets to share their experiences of police violence at the scene of the anti-extradition protest. Many people say that gender issues finally have their own mass rallies in Hong Kong. But are there limits to what sexual violence is seeing?

We interviewed Hong Kong professor Ho Shi-ning about her own feelings after the Tin Shui Wai incident [1] and her observations on the gender of social activism.

Sexual violence is different from violence in general: it is shame that kills you

In the months that have passed since the extradition was launched, there have been many reports of sexual violence by the police. Because it is difficult to verify, it is often refuted with inconsistent statements and even asserted as "fake news".

"Our existing legislation does not protect the freedom of the public from sexual violence. In Hong Kong, there is an Equal Opportunities Commission to deal with sexual harassment, but many times the result is reconciliation, and everyone is just interviewing and settling, and very few people actually go to court."

"And if the perpetrator is the police, it is even more difficult. The Hong Kong police, now a political tool of an incompetent government, have been given the power to counter violence with violence. In this environment, there is little reason why sexual harassment should be taken seriously by the police."

Moreover, sexual violence differs from ordinary violence in that it is not only physically harmful, but also brings a strong sense of "shame" because it crosses physical boundaries.

We are afraid that others will invade our body, our most private sphere, and it will cause us to lose confidence in ourselves. This also makes sexual victims more afraid to come forward than ordinary victims of violence. (Read more: Interview with He Shining: #MeToo No matter how long the incident has been, the victim is qualified to speak out about the pain)

"Our wills are easily destroyed by sexual shame."

Again, even if you muster up the courage to speak, "It's so hard to be a perfect victim. First of all, you need to know how to respond to all questions. You also need to know the law, and preferably, you have to be very good at writing articles. Some university teachers and friends think, 'I can already write and speak, but I still give so many people doubts, so if a person can't write, doesn't know how to answer, and the legal loopholes are not clear, will people be more likely to think that they are lying?' 」

Gender Watch: Do we really care about sexual harassment?

In this movement, the issue of sexual violence is even more complex. Who acts? Who suffers? What is the language used to describe it? Very few people disassemble it carefully.

"If you are sexually harassed by the police, do people really care about you? Or is it sex, more like a political tool? If we can use your case to reinforce our statement: for example, how bad the police are, then don't we use these things to call on more people to join our camp?"

"Of course it's not good for me to say that. But I often ask myself this question in my mind. Some people say they pay attention on the surface, but what do they really care about? Is it a case to leverage your own agenda? For example, Fanny Law (Luo Fan Jiaofen) has said (Teenage Sexual Service Righteous Person)[2], and activists have also said. Even the police would say that."

"When the umbrella was moving, a girl was accused of attacking the police with her chest and was convicted and imprisoned. It's all in the news internationally. Women are also considered to be if you want to take power through sex. But you think ...... I don't know. It's not impossible for girls to use sex to seize power, but that is very costly. You think that's going to work? But often you are the first to suffer." [3]

Photo courtesy of He Shining

828's Protest Too, many people say, for the first time, our gender, sexuality finally has a big activity.

"Of course, the case is very moving, and it's not easy for them to just show up. But what is the attitude of some people towards the policeman's wife and the policeman's family?" On the street, I still often hear: "The black police open the OT, and the police sister-in-law engages in 3P", "Dick Lin Zheng's mother". She pointed out that having a #MeToo rally does not mean that everyone is gender conscious.

"When we have a more and more ambiguous view of violence, and we focus on gender issues, I don't know if it's really about body integrity, or if we care about the victim of some protesters and the public enemy of others? If they are not the Hong Kong community, they are excluded, and people don't care too much. It dawned on me that this was very political. sex becomes a tool, you can use it if it's good, and you don't use it if it's not good."

"If we really have a normal attitude towards violence, we should all speak up."

From a Class A war criminal, back to an ordinary person

Lately, I've often asked myself, looking back on my past work, what is true caring? Do we use the pain and oppression of others as the capital of our own politics?

"Someone said they wanted to cut the mode, but seriously, can you? No way. Because this is the situation in Hong Kong now, whether we go to the march or not, whether we go to the movement or not, we are already part of the movement. We can't cut it."

After the Tin Shui Wai controversy [1], Ho Shi Ning was attacked by many netizens, including calling her a "Class A war criminal" and "Zuo Jiao", and she was also subjected to many sexual abuses. She then returned to her life and withdrew from the sport for a while. She continues to teach, occasionally writing reviews and contributions. There are still some people who are willing to support her, "I wouldn't say that I want people to help me openly, but if they do, I'm also very touched."

Photo courtesy of He Shining

I'm thinking, okay, none of these things you're scolding are the worst. I've experienced the worst things. So now I think I can ask some questions that people don't dare to ask. I want to have one more day of freedom, just do things for a day.

"I put away a dozen T-shirts that I was fighting against. But I also don't want to spend more money and dress up fancy. That's not how I feel." At the time of the interview, on the screen of Transoceanic Communication, she was wearing a princess sleeve top. No protest lettering, no flashy designer branding. It's a plain top.

He Shining reshaped the image once, cut his hair, and bought a batch of new clothes. She said that her boyfriend said that she is more socially balanced now, more like an ordinary person.

"I just don't trust Hong Kong now. I used to feel like we were all in this together with strangers and protesters. But I'm going to be more careful now."

He Shining recalled: "When I was eating out a while ago, I was said by a girl, 'How can you eat here?' Can you eat it? You send so many people to prison, can you eat it?' I said that the whole thing was videotaped, and I didn't say those words at all [1]. She said, 'I've seen it all!' But if you really watched it and found that I really said those words, it would have been broadcast a long time ago. But she ignored me."

Although it will not be the same as it used to be, Hong Kong will change for the better one day

For Hong Kong people, having the space to be free is the most important thing, but it is also becoming unattainable. (Read more: The Day and Night of 3,000 Tear Gas Bombs Interview with reporter Tan Huiyun: "I used to think that Hong Kong had conditions to love, but now it's not")

"My boyfriend is also very supportive. I used to be discouraged and said I shouldn't stay here. He said, 'You can't go, you have to be careful but not fearful, and when the whole history of Hong Kong unfolds in front of you, you can't run away.'" She said.

"I think it's important to be a Hong Kong person. It's not because I'm a professor, it's because I, as a Hong Kong person, should help. It's just that sometimes, I still feel that the distance between me and the Hong Kong community has suddenly become a little distant."

I dare not say what the future of Hong Kong will become, or when sports will be better. Only now, our trust in the police is gone. Our trust in the government is gone, so no matter what, Hong Kong will never be the same as it used to be. But I'm sure things will get better one day. I believe there is such a day.