Jessie Lau is a writer & journalist from HK, now in London
Hi there—I’m a writer and journalist approaching stories with an intersectional feminist lens. I’ve spent the past decade covering identity, human rights and culture from Asia, Europe and the United States. My work has appeared in The Guardian, BBC, Los Angeles Review of Books, CNN, The Economist, WIRED and many others. A persistent generalist with expertise on China and ESEA, I’m most interested in stories reflecting on gender, race, and empire. I’m a board member at the non-profit NüVoices and founding editor of its digital magazine. Commission/pitch me + read a selection of my stories below:
Hong Kong's embattled gender movement is coming under fire amid Beijing's national security crackdown
With new leader, the future for progressive politics looks more challenging - for feminists in Hong Kong, it was already bleak
Facing censorship at home, Chinese feminists are sounding the alarm over Peng Shuai abroad
Amid crackdowns on #MeToo whistleblowers, Chinese feminists in the UK and US are creating communities to fight against sexism and racism
Why tennis star Peng Shuai’s #MeToo allegation is such a threat to China’s leaders
Her accusation exposes systemic sexism and threatens the Communist Party’s legitimacy, Chinese feminists say
Will new Olympics rules exclude or include transgender athletes?
Backlash against transgender and non-binary competitors in Tokyo has highlighted the problems preventing inclusion in sports at all levels
‘The world has become bigger’: fighting for trans rights in Hong Kong
Despite its cosmopolitanism, Hong Kong society still holds conservative views on gender and sexuality. But a new generation is changing this.
Who is the real Mulan?
The current film has sparked a fierce fight over Mulan’s soul: what she should represent, both as a symbol for women and for Chinese-ness
Hong Kong Is Still Waiting for Its Feminist Uprising
Women and girls in the ongoing protest movement are up against a deeply unequal society