‘I do not jump into the well’: a legal perspective on gender-based violence in China and Taiwan through literature

The paper explores the role of women in Chinese society and the issue of domestic violence, intertwining fiction and reality between law and literature in Li Ang’s novel The Butcher’s Wife and other literary works. Historically, Chinese women have faced systemic gender inequality, deeply rooted in patriarchal traditions and Confucian values, which positioned them in subordinate roles, leading to their marginalization both within the family and society. Domestic violence has often been tolerated or ignored, with legal systems offering little protection for women. Literature has often served as a platform to critique and expose these social injustices and The Butcher’s Wife provides a powerful critique of these societal norms through the tragic story of Lin Shi. This analysis considers some legal reflections about the novel in order to understand the awareness of gender-based violence during a specific time in Taiwan and in the People’s Republic of China, advocating for legal reform and a deeper understanding of women’s rights in an evolving social landscape. Furthermore, the paper tries to predict some scenario in different times to outline development in the socio-legal framework.