Violence as 'family dispute': culture and politics in China's domestic violence laws
About this episode
This episode explores the cultural and legal challenges surrounding domestic violence in China, particularly how it is often treated as a family issue rather than a criminal one.
After reading the story about a young woman abused and kidnapped by her family, I went down a rabbit hole to learn why police and judiciary avoid prosecuting what they consider to be 'family disputes'. In this episode, I unpack how domestic violence is routinely dismissed as a “family affair,” why police and courts avoid intervention, how cultural norms around shame and harmony shape reporting behaviour, and why China’s 2016 Anti‑Domestic Violence Law still has no real teeth. We cover clan an...
People in this episode
Host: Edi Obiakpani
Topics covered
- domestic violence
- law
- cultural norms
- police intervention
- judiciary
- family disputes
Keywords
- domestic violence
- China
- family disputes
- cultural norms
- law enforcement
- judiciary
- 2016 Anti-Domestic Violence Law
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: 2016 Anti‑Domestic Violence Law
Places: China
More episodes of Sinobabble
- “It is a way for me to seek meaning in this absurd world": Digital vulnerability and the rise of spiritual scams in China
- How to read China well w/Alexander Boyd
- Tongueless by Lau Yee-Wa Review | Sinobabble Book Club
- Media influence as foreign policy: China’s journalist training in Africa w/Dr Emeka Umejei
- The Party's Interests Come First Review | Sinobabble Book Club
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Sinobabble podcast page.