ABSTRACT
The year 2010 saw the rise of a new wave of “pro-democracy movement” populated by young activists protesting against the increasing cooperation between the Hong Kong (SAR) government and big property developers at the expense of the growing number of poor people. However, recently the territory’s dominant pro-democracy group, the Democratic Party, suddenly “shifted sides” and struck a deal with the Hong Kong government (and Chinese authorities), causing the government’s political reform package to be passed by a majority vote. 1 This move by the Democratic Party sparked off a wave of furore among the public, as well as in online discussions, accusing the party of a “betrayal” of the democratic cause. Among the angry postings were swear words and verbal violence calling for the rape of Emily Lau, deputy leader of the Democratic Party. Facing an angry audience at a public forum, Lau replied to her opponents, accusing them of online verbal violence, and tried to mobilize the female audience against her largely male accusers. Among the torrents of online discussion, Lau’s opponents condemned her self-victimization as a smokescreen tactic to divert public attention. (Young) women activists and netizens condemned Lau for “giving feminism a bad name” and contributing to the already (considered) lost struggle for a feminist voice in Hong Kong, both in virtual (cyberspace) and real life politics.
