This panel examines the recent emergence of feminist and LGBTQ organizations by Chinese Mainland diaspora in the UK. What unique characteristics do they have compared to the Western feminist activism? What are their political implications both in China and the UK? Can they bring wider solidarity to the global feminist movements as they make feminism Chinese? Via conversations with several London-based Chinese feminist and LGBTQ organizations, we wish to better understand and draw more public attention to this nascent but flourishing wave of feminist activism led by young Chinese descendants outside Chinese Mainland.

We invite you to join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring Qiu Bai from Queer China UK, Lilith Z from 50 Shades of Feminism, Zhu Hai from VaChina, and Nana from Weareallchainedwomen. This panel will be chaired by Yao Yanran (Lau China Institute) and discussed by Yudi Feng, a Chinese feminism theorist from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

 Speakers/organisations

50 Shades of Feminism is a grass-root community of Chinese and Chinese-speaking feminists. We aim to unite all Chinese-speaking feminists by mainly but not limited to mandarin-speaking stand-up comedy shows.

Qiu Bai (she/they) is an LGBTQ+ feminist activist. Experienced in equal rights legal advocacy, grassroots NGOs and youth empowerment in China and Europe. A member of Queer China UK and Pan-European Rainbow Chinese (PERC).

Yudi Feng is a Ph.D. candidate in the Politics Department at University of California, Santa Cruz. Their dissertation project studies feminist thoughts in contemporary China and inquiries into how Chinese feminism can bring perspectives to debates on subjectivity and subject formation in political theory.

VaChina is a UK-based Chinese female and queer diaspora-led organisation focused on gender and intersectional feminist activism. Founded in 2017, the organisation now has more than 400 members based in the UK and beyond. VaChina aspires to raise the awareness for intersectional gender injustice and advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. By organising a wide range of events in-person and online, VaChina aims to provide a safe and engaging space for Chinese feminists to gather and campaign collectively.

We Are All Chained Women aim to unite more women and feminists from both China and abroad to overthrow patriarchal tyranny. We hope that women are not just a topic of discussion but rather the creators of a new space, a new perspective, and a new power dynamic. "In this era of the women's revolution, I absolutely do not wish for women to achieve only false freedom and false equality. I especially hope that women will obtain true freedom and true equality!" — He-Yin Zhen (a Chinese anarchist feminist in the early 20th century ) 

Yanran Yao is a political scientist specialising in Chinese politics, civil society, and globalization. Before joining the Lau China Institute as a fixed-term lecturer, she has been teaching at the University of Hong Kong as a lecturer. She has extensive publications on journals including the Contemporary Journal of China. Her current research interests include Chinese diaspora community organizations and their roles in China’s overseas operations.