One of China’s most prominent feminists has a message for the US president-elect: “Hey Trump, feminists are watching you.”

Zheng Churan, who has been supported by Hillary Clinton for her advocacy, wrote a letter to Trump warming him of the perils of chauvinism as he prepares to take office.

Trump famously boasted about using his fame to have sex with women and grope them without prior consent, saying: “When you’re a star they let you do it.”



In 2015 Zheng was one of five feminist activists detained by police for more than a month after the group planned a peaceful protest against sexual harassment.

Zheng, who is also known as Datu or Big Rabbit, wrote to the president-elect: “Even across the Pacific, in the faraway land of China, there are constantly reports of you and your government’s involvement in sexual discrimination.

“We wish you to watch out, the feminists worldwide are speaking, and we are watching you.”

Zheng called on Trump to respect women’s rights, warning him not to use his position to spread “straight-man cancer”.

Sent a letter to @realDonaldTrump . 10,899 Chinese vote 10 Top “Straight-man-cancer Behaviors”.HEY TRUMP , FEMINISTS ARE WATCHING YOU. pic.twitter.com/75eBUxY7tD — 大兔大兔大兔 (@allisongrabbit) December 13, 2016

The term has become popular in China in recent years to describe a “disease” among narrow-minded men seeking to control women and work against gender equality.

“Straight-man cancer” also chastises men seen to cling on to traditional Chinese norms in relationships, such as suppressing women’s rights through official policies, devaluing female labour and branding educated women as unattractive.

“In general ‘straight-man cancer’ is the equivalent of ‘male chauvinist pig’ in English,” Zheng wrote.

“Just like cancerous cells, straight-man cancer spreads everywhere damaging feminist movements and undermining social equality. It is pervasive.”

Clinton supported China’s feminists during their detention, accusing President Xi Jinping of the “shameless” persecution of women’s rights activists.

The detention of women's activists in #China must end. This is inexcusable. #FreeBeijing20Five Read this story: http://t.co/qV3VNOgmyG — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 7, 2015

Trump’s eventual election rival became an icon following a 1995 speech she gave at the UN’s Fourth Conference on Women in Beijing.

Trump’s record of supporting causes of the persecuted is far less clear – and many advocates in China worry his presidency will prioritise deal-making over human rights.

Zheng predicted a hard fall if Trump’s previous sentiments followed him into the White House.

“We wish to warn you that those who spread this straight-man cancer will inevitably pay their price for the contemptible comments, violent remarks towards women or actions sexualising women.”