Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Chinese Law Professor Dismissed After Feminist Comments Spark Controversy
A law professor in Beijing was dismissed from her job.
The college said she had committed professional misconduct but did not explain the decision in detail.
A complaint pointed to things she had said about feminism and a course on women’s rights.
It also referred to private messages and social-media posts.
In class, she asked how many women should be on a powerful Chinese political committee.
Some people objected to her comments, while her female students continued to support her.
The article suggests her dismissal may be connected to both her feminist views and her criticism of the committee’s lack of women.
It says the case raises questions about whether teachers can freely discuss difficult ideas in China.
A law professor at a prestigious Beijing college was dismissed for what the institution called “professional misconduct,” without a detailed public explanation.
A complaint cited her remarks about a women’s-rights course and an online response to whether she was a feminist.
The complaint also cited private chats, pseudonymous social-media posts, praise for #MeToo, and students’ comments.
A recording showed her asking how many women should serve on the Communist Party’s all-male Standing Committee.
The article says her dismissal raises concerns about academic freedom and the treatment of feminism in China.
- Who
- An unnamed law professor at a prestigious Beijing college.
- What
- She was dismissed after a complaint cited her comments, posts, private chats, and classroom discussion.
- When
- The dismissal followed an online controversy and complaint; the article says it happened last week, without giving a publication date.
- Where
- A prestigious college in Beijing, China.
- Why
- The college cited “professional misconduct”; the complaint described her actions as endangering national ideological security. The article questions whether her feminist views and political criticism contributed.
Critics of the dismissal
Complaint's allegations
Whether her remarks warranted dismissal
Critics of the dismissal
The article portrays the dismissal as raising concerns about academic freedom and the treatment of feminist ideas.
Complaint's allegations
The complaint alleged that her remarks and other activities endangered national ideological security and constituted professional misconduct.
Meaning of the remarks
Critics of the dismissal
The professor said her “box of chocolates” reference meant students could not predict what her course would be like, and framed her feminism response as a question about gender equality.
Complaint's allegations
Some students interpreted the chocolate remark as derogatory toward men, while the complaint treated her response about men being inferior as objectionable.
- Official reason given
- “Professional misconduct”; the announcement provided no details.
- Complaint's stated concern
- It described the cited activities as endangering national ideological security.
- Course at issue
- A course on women’s rights, which was suspended after the online controversy.
- Classroom question
- She asked how many women should be on the Standing Committee.
- Complaint signature
- It was signed by someone using the name “Whistle-blower.”
- Professional recognition
- She was selected in 2024 as one of 100 outstanding young talents by the Beijing Law Society.
- Reported student response
- The article says female students continued to defend her.