Kim Lee

Kim Lee, originally an English teacher from the United States, became a folk hero among Chinese women for braving the often taboo subject of domestic violence. After Lee’s then-husband, Li Yang, the founder of a wildly popular English-learning company, assaulted her, Lee decided not to take the all-too-common path of silence. Instead, she posted photos of her bruises online, and they went viral in Chinese social media. In February 2013, a Beijing court granted her a divorce, and issued a restraining order against Li — the first ever in the capital city. Lee remains based there, where she is now a passionate activist against domestic violence.