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Understanding resilience and resistance against sexual harassment in a patri-authoritarian context

Li, Yuchen Viveka and Eklund, Lisa LU (2025) In Women's Studies International Forum 115. p.1-1
Abstract
This article adds to the growing body of literature on the #MeToo movement in non-Western contexts. It explores the concept of resilience in the context of workplace sexual harassment in China, drawing on 26 cases from the #MeToo in China Archives (2018–2019). Using thematic analysis, the study examines the actions of the harassed individuals, the support they received, and how they handled and coped with trauma, highlighting how resilience and resistance are shaped within the constraints of a patri-authoritarian context. In such a context, deeply entrenched male-centered ideology and traditional values, coupled with state control and surveillance and limited freedom of expression, create an environment in which sexual harassment is... (More)
This article adds to the growing body of literature on the #MeToo movement in non-Western contexts. It explores the concept of resilience in the context of workplace sexual harassment in China, drawing on 26 cases from the #MeToo in China Archives (2018–2019). Using thematic analysis, the study examines the actions of the harassed individuals, the support they received, and how they handled and coped with trauma, highlighting how resilience and resistance are shaped within the constraints of a patri-authoritarian context. In such a context, deeply entrenched male-centered ideology and traditional values, coupled with state control and surveillance and limited freedom of expression, create an environment in which sexual harassment is enabled and sustained.
Findings reveal that resilience in this context is a dynamic process that unfolds over time. The study demonstrates how resilience can, under shifting structural conditions, evolve into visible acts of resistance. Additionally, resilience is not only externalized through social and political action but also internalized as cognitive resilience,
as victim-survivors move beyond internalized self-blame and patriarchal definitions of love and sexuality (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Sexual harassment, Gender regime, Patri-authoritarian, Resilience, Resistance, Workplace
in
Women's Studies International Forum
volume
115
article number
103253
pages
9 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105023480129
ISSN
0277-5395
DOI
10.1016/j.wsif.2025.103253
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7ed383aa-9392-403a-9065-ad43fde8afc2
date added to LUP
2026-01-19 16:54:03
date last changed
2026-01-20 10:15:03
@article{7ed383aa-9392-403a-9065-ad43fde8afc2,
  abstract     = {{This article adds to the growing body of literature on the #MeToo movement in non-Western contexts. It explores the concept of resilience in the context of workplace sexual harassment in China, drawing on 26 cases from the #MeToo in China Archives (2018–2019). Using thematic analysis, the study examines the actions of the harassed individuals, the support they received, and how they handled and coped with trauma, highlighting how resilience and resistance are shaped within the constraints of a patri-authoritarian context. In such a context, deeply entrenched male-centered ideology and traditional values, coupled with state control and surveillance and limited freedom of expression, create an environment in which sexual harassment is enabled and sustained. <br/>Findings reveal that resilience in this context is a dynamic process that unfolds over time. The study demonstrates how resilience can, under shifting structural conditions, evolve into visible acts of resistance. Additionally, resilience is not only externalized through social and political action but also internalized as cognitive resilience, <br/>as victim-survivors move beyond internalized self-blame and patriarchal definitions of love and sexuality}},
  author       = {{Li, Yuchen Viveka and Eklund, Lisa}},
  issn         = {{0277-5395}},
  keywords     = {{Sexual harassment; Gender regime; Patri-authoritarian; Resilience; Resistance; Workplace}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1--1}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Women's Studies International Forum}},
  title        = {{Understanding resilience and resistance against sexual harassment in a patri-authoritarian context}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2025.103253}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.wsif.2025.103253}},
  volume       = {{115}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}