BBC’s pick of ‘ influential women’ disgusting
The BBC website released its “100 Women 2016” list Monday. Denise Ho, a Hong Kong singer, and Churan Zheng, a so- called feminist campaigner from the Chinese mainland, are on the list. This is the fourth time that the BBC compiled its list of “inspirational and influential women,” which started in 2013.
Chinese women on the list are little known to Chinese society, and the public has no idea what makes them “inspirational and influential.” Ho admitted that she is a lesbian four years ago, and later was rejected by mainland netizens for her connections to the Hong Kong and Tibet independence movements. Cosmetics giant Lancôme called off a promotional concert by Ho in June following sharp criticism the entertainer drew from the mainland.
The BBC introduced Ho as a pop icon, but the singer was chosen on the list for her “pro- democracy” campaigns. Most Chinese have never heard of Ho’s artistic achievements, and this may be why the BBC did not categorize her as an “inspirational and influential” artist. In fact, the Western media is using the list for their political ends.
Statistics from the UN suggest that China is in Asia’s lead regarding gender equality. Chinese society is showing more care and understanding to women, and China outperforms many Western countries, including the UK, in granting men and women equal pay for equal work. The BBC is attempting to use the list to promote its own standards or ideals, which are impossible to be realized in China, and the list is just the butt of a joke for Chinese netizens.
Admittedly, as society is ever- changing, China still faces many challenges in protecting women’s rights. The problems deserve attention and coordination from the government, and cannot be addressed by anti- government movements. In fact, the BBC does not care at all whether the listed are representatives of Chinese women or not.
The listed Chinese women have one thing in common – expressing their appeals via radical and anti- government means. This is a significant reason for their being chosen on the list. For Western media, any anti- government action is worth praise and support, and this logic is used to deal with China only.
Ho being listed highlights the standard of mainstream Western media. As a secondtier singer in Hong Kong, Ho always uses political means to catch eyeballs, and is condemned by Chinese netizens as an immoral entertainer. She makes trouble for the Chinese government, posts her photo with the Dalai Lama on social media platforms and goes against public opinion. Even if supported by the Western media, Ho is sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind.
Some people are imitating Ho in an attempt to become famous and rich. They are supported by anti- China forces in the West. Certain entertainers are not talented enough to win popularity in market- based competition, and thus take advantage of the Western political “fashion” and go against Chinese public opinion to catch eyeballs.
In fact, certain Western people and media outlets, including the BBC, have long attempted to “direct” China, but have never succeeded. They are depressed and frustrated, and such sentiments found vent in the BBC list. But this will only make China more confident about itself, and feel the BBC list is disgusting.