Sexual Revolution Stirs Among China’s Young... (Press, 30 August 1988)

In 1988, a sexual revolution began to emerge among China's youth, contrasting sharply with the country's historically puritanical values. Inspired by demonstrations at Peking University, there were calls for sexual freedom, as student protest posters proclaimed, “Allow free love, end the sexual repression of one billion people.” As concerns about A.I.D.S. heightened celibacy in the West, Chinese cities, particularly in the east, saw increased promiscuity, rising divorce rates, and a surge in venereal diseases. The public discourse also expressed alarm over pornography, which was believed to corrupt both the youth and law enforcement. Despite these changes, China's official culture remained chaste, disapproving of revealing attire and public displays of affection, while its legal framework still criminalised seduction and adultery with armed forces members. This paradox led to what many young people perceived as a double standard, where illicit behaviour persisted, so long as it was kept discreet. In cities like Canton, prostitution was visibly thriving, with "wild chickens" engaging in their trade openly, and even a nightclub for homosexual men existed, albeit alongside a harsh labour camp for women convicted of prostitution. In Shanghai, taxi drivers often guided customers to prostitutes, and one well-known young woman, dubbed "Miss English," became notable for her limited language skills. In Peking, a historic gate of the Forbidden City served as a meeting spot for male homosexuals, although penalties for homosexuality could be severe. Reports indicated that police raided public parks at night to disperse couples, and marriages were at times clandestinely consummated in such locations due to lack of privacy. Though the rise in sexual diseases since the 1980s was notable, A.I.D.S. remained largely absent from the discourse. Health officials even advised against relationships with foreigners to prevent the disease's introduction. Analysts attributed the shifting sexual mores to a "moral vacuum," arising from disillusionment with Communist virtues that replaced old moral codes. While urban youth increasingly embraced Western sexual values, rural regions tended to retain stricter customs, with reports of bride-selling and child marriages rising. The overarching influence of Deng Xiaoping's reform policies was frequently cited as a catalyst for these changes, introducing foreign cultural elements to China, including pornography. Critics pointed to a historic hypocrisy, observing that leaders like Mao Zedong had maintained personal liberties while imposing restrictions on the general populace. The call for strengthening socialist spiritual values prompted debates on how to reconcile newfound pleasures with traditional ideals, encapsulated in the contrast between promoting wealth and addressing moral decay sparked by the pursuit of those riches.

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