Temporary Trust: Legal Cynicism, Protection, and the Paradox of Victim Participation in Justice

Victims in China, including sexual victims, often distrust legal institutions yet continue to seek protection from them. However, few studies have examined why and how this so-called paradox has emerged in the Chinese context. Drawing on including in-depth interviews with victims of sexual harassment, this study illuminates how sex victims persist in calling on the police and relying on legal authorities despite the widespread cynicism toward them. The analysis suggests that victims ultimately turn to legal agencies because they have fairly limited options for seeking justice in China, where the provision of victim services through non-state channels is severely inadequate. By temporarily turning to legal authorities, victims are at least made visible and heard by the state. Despite stigmatizing and burdensome experiences with the law, they participate in the justice system merely for recognition and tangible protection, leaving them with no "way out" and exacerbating their disadvantages in society.