Chinese school under fire for victim-blaming curriculum

Some photos, which came from a "mental health education" class at the Zhaoqing No. 1 middle school in Guangdong, said victims are sexually harassed because they dress and act inappropriately, the People’s Daily reported last week.

Photos of the teaching materials that circulated online said that girls should know how to protect themselves and not dress revealingly or act frivolously.

On Chinese social media platform Weibo this month, users have criticized the statements, saying they were problematic and pointing out the dangers associated with victim-blaming, CNN reported.

A person wears a sweater. Illustration photo by Pexels

In the days that followed the breaking of the story, local Chinese education authorities issued a statement on WeChat, saying the photos were teaching materials in a class held in April last year, and contained "inappropriate expressions that caused misunderstanding." Authorities said they have reprimanded and educated relevant personnel associated with disseminating the materials, and the school has also been ordered to "make rectifications."

The school has not released a public statement regarding the matter.