BEIJING: Two high-profile murders of women have provoked a backlash on Chinese social media over the government's promotion of marriage, with many people arguing that women are afforded too little protection from domestic violence.
A 24-year-old woman in rural Henan province was stabbed to death by her husband during a "family dispute" last week, after which he was arrested, authorities said on Monday.
In the semiautonomous city of Hong Kong, the dismembered remains of 28-year-old socialite and model, Abby Choi, were found last week, leading to the arrest of her ex-husband and two of his family members on suspicion of murder.
The murders of the women from opposite ends of the social spectrum rocked social media, with a growing number of people questioning government calls for marriage and more babies to offset a demographic crisis in rapidly aging China.
"If you don't get married, you're beaten by your boyfriend. If you're married, your husband beats you. If you're divorced, your ex-husband beats you. What has become of this world?" one member of the public wrote on the Weibo platform.
"Not marrying and not having kids is indeed the safest," said another person who posted.
The Weibo hashtag "24-year-old woman died after being stabbed eight times by her husband" logged more than 200 million views on Tuesday alone. Media said the victim in Henan, surnamed Yang, had two young children.
Social media videos circulating on Monday showed dozens of angry residents of the victim's hometown clashing with police, although Reuters was unable to verify the location of the footage.
OUTRAGE AND DEBATE
Traditional notions of marriage and family obligations remain strong in China even though many younger people are beginning to question this, citing unaffordable childcare, inadequate support for working mothers and individualistic aspirations.
This is partly reflected in a rising divorce rate.
Some social media posters highlighted the difficulty of leaving abusive marriages after the introduction in 2021 of a mandatory 30-day "cooling-off period" for couples wishing to divorce.
Many also criticised "prioritising men over women", a conservative mindset common in parts of rural China, which gave rise to a stark gender imbalance in China's population due to sex-selective abortions during decades of the one-child policy.
The country has about 722 million males compared to 690 million females, leaving millions of "bare branch" bachelors unable to wed.
China's population fell last year for the first time in six decades.
The two murders are the latest incidents to raise angry questions about the treatment of women.
Last year, reports of a mother of eight found chained in a shed in Jiangsu province and the widely shared video of a group of female diners being beaten by several men in the northern city of Tangshan provoked outrage and debate over violence against women.
The incidents come at a sensitive time for the government, which will this weekend commence its annual legislative sessions, where a new leadership team under President Xi Jinping will be unveiled.
At such times, authorities are particularly keen to suppress public debate that might threaten social stability.
China last October passed a new women's protection law targeting gender discrimination and sexual harassment, although it also calls on women to "respect family values".
The legislation came as activists expressed concern about increasing government rhetoric promoting traditional women's roles, viewed by some as a setback for women's rights.
Reuters
Thu Mar 02 2023
![Murders of two women spark backlash in China against marriage Murders of two women spark backlash in China against marriage](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/41677729221_AbbyChoi.jpg)
Police excavate a landfill during a search for the missing parts of 28-year-old model Abby Choi's body in Hong Kong, China February 28, 2023. - REUTERS
![Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721119130_wargaemasbersalah.jpg)
Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar
Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini mensabitkan kesalahan seorang warga emas atas dua pertuduhan pindaan membunuh abang dan kakak iparnya dua tahun lalu.
![PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721120782_TBMASERMIEYATI.jpg)
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan
Mas Ermieyati Samsudin berkata tempoh itu diberikan susulan laporan audit berkaitan, baru dibentangkan pada minggu lepas.
![Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721118437_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi
Penambahbaikan aspek perundangan akan diteliti kerajaan, termasuk mengadakan perbincangan dengan beberapa kementerian berkaitan dalam masa terdekat.
![Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2019-12/81575261818_GobindSinghDeo.jpg)
Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind
Beliau menegaskan bahawa pelaksanaan e-Invois itu akan memberi manfaat, termasuk meningkatkan pendapatan PKS.
![Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai? Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721117483_KimPangon.jpg)
Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai?
Bekas pengendali skuad negara itu dilaporkan sedang menjadi calon utama untuk mengisi jawatan pengurus kelab gergasi Korea Selatan, Ulsan Hyundai.
![Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-12/41482504881_TamanTasikTitiwang.jpg)
Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau
Daripada keluasan itu, sebanyak 977.55 hektar tanah telah diwartakan, manakala 1,416.24 hektar tanah lapang yang berpotensi akan dan sedang dalam proses diwartakan.
Guna jawatan untuk projek pembekalan, suami isteri ditahan
Sepasang suami isteri direman enam hari dalam siasatan penyalahgunaan jawatan untuk mendapatkan projek pembekalan bernilai lebih RM200,000.
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Majistret Noor Mazrinie Mahmood bermula hari ini hingga Ahad.
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Majistret Noor Mazrinie Mahmood bermula hari ini hingga Ahad.
DBKL ubah lalu lintas Jalan Sultan Ismail bermula 22 Julai
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) akan melaksanakan perubahan lalu lintas di Jalan Sultan Ismail berkuat kuasa 22 Julai ini.
![ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721116604_ChongZheminDewan.jpg)
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar
Tindakan tersebut seolah-olah satu penghinaan paling besar kepada Parlimen yang telah meluluskan pindaan Perlembagaan Persekutuan berkait Akta Antilompat Parti.
[TERKINI] Perbelanjaan pengguna Malaysia dijangka kembali teguh
Perbelanjaan pengguna Malaysia dijangka teguh sepanjang tahun ini, demikian menurut BMI, iaitu syarikat Fitch Solitions.
![Pembunuhan Abby Choi: Suspek ketujuh ditahan di China Pembunuhan Abby Choi: Suspek ketujuh ditahan di China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-02/81677327678_AbbyChoi.jpg)
Pembunuhan Abby Choi: Suspek ketujuh ditahan di China
Wanita itu ditahan kerana disyaki membantu dalam pembunuhan sosialit berusia 28 tahun itu.
![Kematian Abby mengejutkan, menyayat hati - Aaron Kwok Kematian Abby mengejutkan, menyayat hati - Aaron Kwok](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/71677826996_aaronkwok.jpg)
Kematian Abby mengejutkan, menyayat hati - Aaron Kwok
Menurut laporan, mendiang sering dilihat mengunjungi rumah agam Kwok malah dikatakan turut meraikan hari lahir bersama.
![Model Hong Kong dibunuh kejam, keluarga bekas suami suspek utama Model Hong Kong dibunuh kejam, keluarga bekas suami suspek utama](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-02/81677327678_AbbyChoi.jpg)
Model Hong Kong dibunuh kejam, keluarga bekas suami suspek utama
Cebisan anggota badan Abby Choi ditemui di sebuah rumah yang didirikan sebagai tapak penyembelihan.