A controversial workshop on sexual harassment conducted at a middle school in China has triggered an online debate surrounding victim-blaming.
The school located in Zhaoqing, Guangdong, conducted a "mental health education" session during which they displayed images conveying the message that individuals experiencing sexual harassment do so due to their "flamboyant dressing and flirtatious behavior", according to the state-run People's Daily.
As reported by the newspaper, the content of the lesson that sparked controversy mentioned: "Sexual harassment is mainly motivated by sexual desire. The victims of sexual harassment suffer because they dress flamboyantly and behave flirtatiously. Girls shouldn't wear transparent or skimpy clothes and should avoid frivolous behavior."
The images from the contentious teaching material, which surfaced only this month, have triggered outrage and astonishment on social media. Many are attributing this to conservative perspectives that they believe highlight the entrenched gender inequality within a patriarchal society.
Last week, due to the public outcry, local education authorities issued a statement acknowledging that the course material had led to misunderstandings among citizens.
"The lecture contained some inappropriate expressions, which caused misunderstanding among (online users)," the statement said.
The County Education Bureau condemned the incident and directed the school to undertake corrective measures. They emphasized the need to rigorously implement the teaching lecture and courseware review process, enhance educational administration, strengthen teacher training, and elevate the standard of educational initiatives.
However, the official statement also incited a backlash among social media users. Many objected to the use of the term "misunderstanding" in the statement, contending that the teaching materials were not an innocent mistake but rather a manifestation of deeply ingrained patriarchal beliefs widespread throughout the country.
Featured Video Of The Day
Opinion: Blog | 'Don't Do Drama': My Story Of Online Sexual Harassment Isn't Mine Alone California State Senator Used Her Male Chief Of Staff As Sex Slave, Claims Lawsuit Amid MeToo Row In Kerala, Samantha Prabhu's Message To Telugu Film Industry AAP Asks Its Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal To Quit Over Atishi Remarks "Your Duty...": Chief Justice On Bengal's 'No Night Shift For Women' Note Arvind Kejriwal Resigns After Choosing Atishi As His Replacement Pics: Supercars Line Up At The World's Largest Temple, Tourists Stunned IIT Kanpur Launches Project For UP Digital Health Stack New Kia Carnival MPV Gets Over 1,800 Pre-Orders Before Launch Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.